THIBODAUX, La. – Nicholls State University senior defensive lineman
Sully Laiche is one of three finalists for the STATS FCS Buck Buchanan Award, the organization announced Tuesday morning. The honor is annually presented to the top defensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).
Laiche is joined by James Madison defensive end Ron'Dell Carter and Montana linebacker Dante Olson as the top vote-getters from the 26 finalists revealed on Nov. 25. The Buchanan, named for the Pro and College Football Hall-of-Famer and presented since 1995, will be handed out at the STATS FCS Awards Banquet on Jan. 10 in Frisco, Texas – on the eve of the national championship game. Past winners include Dexter Coakley, Rashean Mathis, Jared Allen and Arthur Moats.
Laiche, who was eighth in the voting for freshman of the year in 2016, ended his remarkable career at Nicholls with his 12th sack of the season last Saturday at No. 1 North Dakota State. After missing all of fall camp and the first two games following offseason surgery, Laiche finished in the top 10 of the FCS in sacks, tackles for loss (22.5), and forced fumbles (4). He totaled 63 tackles for the season, including a season-high eight twice, and had 2.0 sacks in three different games.
A four-time All-Southland honoree, Laiche became the first defensive player since 2007 to be named Southland Conference Player of the Year. With 37.5 career sacks, he is tied for fifth all-time in the FCS and second in the Southland. Laiche also ranks in the top 15 all-time in the FCS with 62 tackles for loss.
In his four years, Laiche, a native of Gramercy, Louisiana and Lutcher graduate, helped lead Nicholls to back-to-back Southland titles and three consecutive trips to the FCS playoffs - both program firsts. The Colonels not only reached the postseason but claimed two playoff wins in their last two appearances.
A national panel of 156 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries voted on the Buchanan Award following the regular season. Voters selected a Top 5 on their ballot with a first-place vote equaling five points and continuing through with a fifth-place vote being one.
The 2019 Buck Buchanan Award results for fourth through 26th place were as follows:
4. Zach Hall, LB, Southeast Missouri: 11-15-12-13-16-193
5. Derrek Tuszka, DE, North Dakota State: 7-16-14-11-5-168
6. Kordell Jackson, S, Austin Peay: 4-13-12-13-10-144
7. John Daka, DE, James Madison: 11-7-7-9-9-131
8. Brandon Easterling, S, Dayton: 10-8-3-3-10-107
9. Elerson Smith, DE, Northern Iowa: 3-3-13-9-8-92
10. Eli Mencer, LB, Albany: 3-4-4-8-10-69
11. Christian Rozeboom, LB, South Dakota State: 2-6-4-9-4-68
12. Anthony Adams, DB, Portland State: 3-4-7-2-5-61
13. Bryson Armstrong, LB, Kennesaw State: 3-1-5-9-3-55
14.(tie) Da'Jon Lee, LB, Saint Francis: 0-3-6-8-7-53
14.(tie) Bryce Sterk, DE, Montana State: 2-5-4-4-3-53
16. Greg Liggs Jr., CB, Elon: 1-3-3-8-5-47
17. Jeremy Chinn, S, Southern Illinois: 2-2-2-7-6-44
18. Cam Gill, LB, Wagner: 2-4-1-1-5-36
19. Willie Eubanks Jr., LB, The Citadel: 1-3-3-0-3-29
20. Isiah Swann, CB, Dartmouth: 1-1-2-3-4-25
21.(tie) Aaron Patrick, DE, Eastern Kentucky: 2-0-1-4-2-23
21.(tie) Keith Woetzel, LB, Lehigh: 0-3-3-1-0-23
23. Rico Kennedy, LB Morgan State: 1-0-2-2-1-16
24. Nick Wheeler, DE, Colgate: 2-0-0-0-1-11
25. Artevius Smith, S, ETSU: 0-1-1-1-1-10
26. Solomon Muhammad, LB, Alcorn State: 1-0-0-0-4-9
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