Missouri State senior linebacker Dylan Cole was one of three finalists for the 22nd annual Buck Buchanan Award invited Wednesday to attend the 2016 FCS Awards Banquet and Presentation in Frisco, Texas. Cole, Sam Houston State’s P.J. Hall and UNI’s Karter Schult are the top three vote-getters for the highest individual honor for an FCS defensive player, which will be announced Jan. 6 on the eve of the national championship game.
A four-year Missouri State standout from Rogersville, Mo., Cole led the FCS with 142 tackles and 12.9 tackles per game during the regular season, also ranking first in the Missouri Valley Football Conference for the second-consecutive season. He had at least 13 tackles in nine games, including 19 in the Bears’ win over Southern Illinois. The All-MVFC first-team selection racked up 85 solo tackles, eight tackles for loss, two interceptions, four pass breakups and three forced fumbles. A four-year starter, he finished his career with 457 tackles in 46 games. Cole capped his standout MSU career third on the Bears’ career tackles chart and the No. 9 tackler in Valley history.
A national panel of over 150 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries voted on the Buchanan Award, named for the legendary defensive lineman from Grambling State. The distinguished list of finalists included 25 players from 13 FCS conferences. The Buck Buchanan Award voting reflected the regular season and was conducted before the start of the FCS playoffs.
