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What a landmark year it’s been for Stats Perform and the FCS. Just a Page few months ago, our company completed the biggest acquisition in its Welcoming Letters 4-5 history. At about the same time, our voters placed North Dakota State and James Madison 1-2 in our preseason poll. If we’re as spot-on with 2019 FCS Awards Finalists 7 our plans for growth as we are with championship-game predictions, – Award Finalist 8 the future is indeed bright for both of us. Stats Perform stands before Pete Guerriero – Finalist 10 you tonight as a new, expanded and rebranded company from previous – Payton Award Finalist/ Award Recipient 12 iterations of these banquets. But our commitment to FCS football has never been stronger. Our North Star of revolutionizing sport through Kevin Thomson – Walter Payton Award Finalist 14 AI is now complemented by a broader global footprint and inroads into Ron’Dell Carter – Award Finalist 16 markets that never existed for us before. Underneath that differentia- Sully Laiche – Finalist 18 tion lies a foundation built on passion. It is the inspiration that powers – Buck Buchanan Award Finalist 20 our people and our products, the fuel of our innovation. This evening, we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Buck Buchanan Award, which Alex Pechin – Doris Robinson Award Recipient 22 happens to coincide with the NFL’s 100th anniversary. Buck’s legacy Troy Taylor – Recipient 24 has inspired the best defensive players in the subdivision for a quarter FCS Awards Namesakes 26-27 of a century, a fact reinforced by him recently being named one of the NFL’s Top 100 players along with fellow award namesakes Walter Past FCS Awards Winners 28 Payton and Jerry Rice. May the skill and passion of Buck, Walter and FCS Playoff Bracket 30 Jerry continue to serve as an example to us all, regardless of what kind Master of Ceremonies 31 of field we play on. Tonight, we kick that sentiment off with the repre- FCS Awards Voters 31 sentatives of freshly minted football royalty… Autographs Page 32 Brian Orefice Vice President, Global Operations FCS AWARDS SUPPORTERS Page STATS PERFORM FCS AWARDS BANQUET Stats Perform Front Inside Banquet Coordinators: Brian Orefice, Philip Sokol, Craig 2 Haley and MaryKate House Missouri Valley Football Conference 6 Graphic Designer: Jeffrey Reitzes Northern Arizona University 9 Program Editor/Writer: Craig Haley Ohio Valley Conference 9 Awards Designers: Vicki Davila, Don Dyen and Katie Fogel 11 Advertising: Andrew Shapiro North Dakota State University 13 Photography: Joyce Bishop Sacramento State University 15 Video: Caleb Thomas 17 Southwestern Athletic Conference 19 Stats Perform FCS Website: www.fcs.football 19 21 For future FCS business and advertising inquiries, please contact Pioneer Football League 21 Brian Orefice at [email protected]. Bucknell University 23 25 Stats Perform Global Headquarters CAA Football 29 203 North LaSalle St. Northeast Conference 29 Suite 2200 30 , IL 60601 Back Inside 1-847-583-2100 Stats Perform Back www.statsperform.com 3 January 10, 2020

Welcome to Frisco, recognized as one of the top places to live in America by Money Magazine and home to the NCAA Division I Football Championship game. You'll find we are a "can-do" city with a creative approach and vision for our future, and an integral part of that future is sports.

Your collegiate achievements and future are what we celebrate today. On behalf of the City of Frisco, I want to congratulate the award finalists and winners.

We commend you for years of hard work, dedication and commitment to football. We wish you all the best as you pursue your dreams.

We also congratulate your parents for their patience, perseverance and devotion to you as you pursued your careers. We recognize your parents were your first "coach.”

Whether you're a competitor or spectator, we invite you to checkout Frisco beyond Toyota Stadium. Within minutes of the home field for the championship game, you can enjoy some of the finest sports venues in the country, more than 9 million square feet of retail, dining, and attractions, and hundreds of pieces of art and sculpture that capture the heritage and the talent of Texas and International artists.

With multiple professional sports teams, national and international athletic organizations, world- class facilities, prestigious sports medicine and rehabilitation centers, and an emerging esports community, Frisco is the ultimate sports destination. We are proud to be home to the Frisco Rough Riders, AA affiliate to the Texas Rangers; FC Dallas, Major League Soccer team; the Texas Legends, NBA G League, the National Soccer Hall of Fame; and the National Hockey League’s Dallas Stars call Frisco home with their corporate office and official practice ice located in Dr. Pepper Arena. Frisco is also the home/headquarters of the and future home of the PGA of America.

Frisco is easily accessible from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Love Field Airport, surrounded by major interstate highways, and close to an entire region full of attractions from "cowboys” to culture.

We have a variety of exceptional award-winning hotels, a spectrum of dining opportunities, and the warm Texas welcome we can promise you every time you visit our city. We hope you will enjoy the excitement of the NCAA Football Championship game at Toyota Stadium and plan to return to Frisco.

Best Regards,

Jeff Cheney Mayor

4 5 6 2019 STATS PERFORM FCS AWARDS FINALISTS

WALTER PAYTON AWARD FCS Offensive Player of the Year FCS Freshman Player of the Year

Kenji Bahar QB Monmouth John Bachus III QB UT Martin Eric Barriere QB Eastern Washington Omar Brown DB Northern Iowa Jordan Bentley RB Alabama A&M Tyrese Chambers WR Sacred Heart Julius Chestnut RB Sacred Heart Ian Corwin QB Drake Case Cookus QB Northern Arizona Jacob Dobbs LB Holy Cross Zerrick Cooper QB Jacksonville State Nick Eaton LB UC Davis Domenic Cozier RB Holy Cross Tra Fluellen DB Houston Baptist Tom Flacco QB Towson Ailym Ford RB Chattanooga Pete Guerriero RB Monmouth Xavier Gipson WR Stephen F. Austin Felix Harper QB Alcorn State Tyler Hudson WR Central Arkansas Cade Johnson WR South Dakota State Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim WR Alabama A&M Trey Lance QB North Dakota State Trey Lance QB North Dakota State Jah-Maine Martin RB North Carolina A&T Jalen Leary RB Stetson Aaron Parker WR Rhode Island Jacob Roberts LB North Carolina A&T Alex Ramsey RB VMI Keegan Shoemaker QB Lafayette Kurt Rawlings QB Yale Jake Stebbins LB Cornell James Robinson RB State Jeff Undercuffler QB UAlbany Chris Rowland WR Tennessee State Tristan Wheeler LB Richmond Reid Sinnett QB San Diego Hajj-Malik Williams QB Campbell Breylin Smith QB Central Arkansas Javon Williams Jr. RB Southern Illinois Daniel Smith QB Villanova Ryan Stanley QB Florida A&M EDDIE ROBINSON AWARD Kevin Thomson QB Sacramento State FCS Coach of the Year Adam Trautman TE Dayton Aaron Winchester QB Central Connecticut State Nathan Brown Central Arkansas Bailey Zappe QB Houston Baptist Kevin Callahan Monmouth Bob Chesney Holy Cross BUCK BUCHANAN AWARD James Madison FCS Defensive Player of the Year Bernard Clark Jr. Robert Morris North Dakota State Anthony Adams S Portland State UAlbany Bryson Armstrong LB Kennesaw State Austin Peay Ron’Dell Carter DE James Madison Dale Lindsey San Diego Jeremy Chinn S Southern Illinois Connell Maynor Alabama A&M John Daka DE James Madison Ryan McCarthy Central Connecticut Brandon Easterling S Dayton Buddy Pough South Carolina State Willie Eubanks Jr. LB Troy Taylor Sacramento State Cam Gill LB Wagner Buddy Teevens Dartmouth Zach Hall LB Southeast Missouri VMI Kordell Jackson DB Austin Peay Rico Kennedy LB Morgan State DORIS ROBINSON AWARD Sully Laiche DE Nicholls FCS Scholar-Athlete of the Year Da’Jon Lee LB Saint Francis Greg Liggs Jr. CB Elon Jacob Bacon OL Drake Eli Mencer DE UAlbany Joe Caputo LB Eastern Illinois Solomon Muhammad LB Alcorn State Spencer DeMedal S Duquesne Dante Olson LB Montana Dorian Kithcart DL Mercer Aaron Patrick DL Eastern Kentucky Ian McBorrough LB Morgan State Christian Rozeboom LB South Dakota State Dante Olson LB Montana Artevius Smith DB ETSU Alex Pechin P Bucknell Elerson Smith DL Northern Iowa Tom Rehfeld LB Western Illinois Bryce Sterk LB Montana State Chucky Smith S Villanova Isiah Swann CB Dartmouth K.J. Smith S North Alabama DE North Dakota State Jelani Taylor S Cornell Nick Wheeler DE Colgate Carl Thompson OL Alabama State Keith Woetzel LB Lehigh Chris Zirkle OL Northwestern State

7 An opposing coach who went up against Northern Arizona’s Case Cookus this season called him the best he had faced since , the 2013 Walter Payton Award recipient. That’s saying a lot because the coach has been matched against and plenty of other top signal callers.

Northern Arizona coach gets the comparison. In Cookus, he felt the Lumberjacks had the best player on the field every week.

“He is the face of our program,” Ball said. “Not only is he a great player, his leadership, character and work ethic are second to none. It was a great experience and honor to be around such a quality young man.”

Cookus’ resiliency matches his skills. Since stepping onto the FCS scene with a record-breaking season in 2015, when he received the Jerry Rice Award as the national freshman of the year, he has twice battled back from season-ending shoulder injuries. He played in only two games in 2018, but as a fifth-year senior this season, he ranked No. 1 in the FCS in passing yards (4,114) and passing yards per game (342.8). He passed for at least 300 passing yards nine times and threw 31 passes against only seven . Fittingly, he passed for a career-high 450 yards in his final game.

Standing tall in the pocket at 6-foot-4, Cookus set Northern Arizona career records for passing yards (12,082) and touchdown passes (105) with 892 completions on 1,431 attempts. His TD-to- ratio was an incredible 5-to-1 (105 to 21), helping him to a superb 154.5 career passing efficiency rating.

- Craig Haley 8 9 Pete Guerriero entered Monmouth University as a track runner in 2016 and didn’t join the football program until the following year.

In many ways, he’s still running track.

As a redshirt junior this season, Guerriero obliterated the Monmouth single-season record and ranked No. 1 in the FCS with 1,995 rushing yards. The Walter Payton Award finalist also set the school’s single-season record with 2,331 all-purpose yards as the Hawks won the Big South championship and an FCS playoff game for the first time and set the program mark for wins in an 11-3 season.

If you’re scoring at home, Guerriero won the 100- and 200-meter dashes at the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference track championships as a true freshman. But with 20 this season and 39 in his career, he does even more scoring at and beyond.

“Pete has great vision, he is a very patient runner,” Monmouth coach Kevin Callahan said. “He allows things to develop in front of him, and once he sees a crease, he has the acceleration and explosive speed to get through the and get to the second and third levels. He’s done a great job adding strength and body mass over the last two years. I believe he has gotten faster and he’s a much stronger runner than he was in his first year.”

An avid listener to doo-wop music, Guerriero danced his way to four 200-yard rushing performances during a six-game late-season stretch. Included were a career-high 237 rushing yards plus another 66 receiving yards and four touchdowns as Monmouth beat Campbell to clinch the Big South title on Nov. 16. Two days later, he was named the STATS FCS National Offensive Player of the Week

- Craig Haley 10 11 One of the keys to North Dakota State’s unbeaten season occurred when the bright lights weren’t quite shining on the two-time defending FCS champion.

Last offseason, Trey Lance built chemistry on and off the practice fields with the many young players on the roster, even before he earned the starting quarterback role. The thing is, Lance was one of the youngsters, but his leadership skills belied those of many redshirt freshmen.

Lance has gone on to an unfathomable level of play this season, replacing , the winningest quarterback in FCS history, with incredible efficiency while becoming the first freshman to be named offensive player of the year in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. He’s earned the Jerry Rice Award for national freshman of the year and is in the running to become the first rookie to claim the Walter Payton Award as national offensive player of the year.

“He has a huge upside and I think there’s a lot of potential that’s untapped,” NDSU coach Matt Entz said. “It will be exciting to see where he can end up in his career, but right now he’s playing at a high level, and he’s extremely confident with the guys that are around him.”

Incredibly, the strong-armed Lance has thrown 28 touchdowns without an interception in a 15-0 season. Heading into the Bison’s third straight appearance in the FCS championship game, he has completed 186 of 277 passes for 2,741 yards, ranking No. 1 in the FCS in pass efficiency rating (182.8) and No. 4 in completion percentage (67.1). The dual-threat also has rushed for 934 yards and 13 touchdowns, averaging 243.2 yards of total offense per game. - Craig Haley 12 13 Sacramento State posted the biggest improvement in the FCS this season, and its first-year coach, Troy Taylor, is receiving the Eddie Robinson Award as the national coach of the year.

An innovative play caller who’s been around outstanding , Taylor is quick to credit the Hornets’ success to having a healthier Kevin Thomson. The redshirt junior had an injury-riddled campaign in 2018, but he came back this season to claim the Big Sky Conference’s offensive player of the year award.

“Kevin epitomizes what we want from a quarterback in our offense,” Taylor said. “He’s accurate, athletic, a strong leader and a fearless competitor. In our offense, if the quarterback doesn’t play well, we won’t win. Kevin has been terrific and he’s the biggest factor in our resurgence.”

Thomson helped Sacramento State to the best season on the Division I level: the Hornets won a share of the Big Sky title and qualified for the FCS playoffs for the first time, going from a 2-8 record in 2018 to 9-4. A dual-threat, he averaged 319.6 yards of total offense per game (fifth-best nationally) while passing for 3,212 yards and 27 touchdowns and rushing for 619 yards and 12 touchdowns.

During a 15-day span in October, Thomson led the Hornets to three straight wins over nationally ranked opponents – Eastern Washington, Montana State, and Montana – and accounted for 1,104 yards of total offense and 16 touchdowns. In the Homecoming night win over Montana, he set career highs in passing yards (369) and total offensive yards (419) and accounted for six touchdowns. Two days later, he was named the STATS FCS National Offensive Player of the Week.

- Craig Haley 14 15 must be pleased by Ron’Dell Carter’s volunteer work in the NFL legend’s Kids of Character program for underprivileged children. He’s surely impressed with the Baltimore native’s playing career at James Madison University.

It’s been pure dominance by the defensive end, in Lewis fashion.

As a redshirt senior, Carter has been one of the top pass rushers in the FCS. The CAA Football defensive player of the year has racked up 25½ tackles for loss, 11½ sacks and 13 quarterback hurries as well as 59 tackles for a conference champion that has been ranked No. 2 nationally since the preseason and will play tomorrow for its second FCS title in four years. Most notably, he had a career-high 10 tackles, including an incredible six for 31 yards in losses, against rival William & Mary.

With one of the more dominating defensive performances in JMU history, Carter is a finalist for the 25th annual Buck Buchanan Award. Former Dukes Derrick Lloyd (2001) and (2009) won the award previously. Cal Poly is the only program with three winners.

“Ron’Dell is a great leader, a great spokesman and his performance speaks for itself,” coach Curt Cignetti said. “He’s done a tremendous job here at JMU. Besides what he does on the field, he also does a lot of things off the field that are hard to measure.”

Carter, a two-time team captain whose spent his freshman season at Rutgers, has displayed his leadership while giving back to the community, working with youth groups and the homeless as well in other service activities. He knows about family, having followed his brother, Robert Carter Jr., a former Dukes and special teams gunner, to JMU.

- Craig Haley

16 17 If it seemed no offensive line could block Sully Laiche this season, consider how physical limitations didn’t slow him down, either.

The Nicholls defensive end had back surgery in the summer and it was unsure if he would play in 2019 while he sat out preseason camp and then didn’t make his debut until the third game.

Sickened by the flu, he was limited to one practice during the week of Senior Day yet came back to lead a win over McNeese and claim Southland Conference defensive player of the week.

His senior season was phenomenal, and the first defensive player to win the conference’s overall player of the year since 2007 is a finalist for the 25th annual Buck Buchanan Award.

Laiche, pronounced Lesh (like mesh), had a second home in opposing backfields while Nicholls earned a share of its second consecutive Southland championship. In less than 11 full games, he racked up 63 tackles, 22½ tackles for loss and 12 sacks and forced four .

“What Sully has meant to this program over the last couple of years, I can’t even describe it,” coach Tim Rebowe said. “He is one of the best players I’ve ever been around. He works at it on and off the field all the time – at practice, in the weight room and in film. What you see in the game is what he does it in practice every day – he practices hard and never takes a play off.”

The re-emergence of Nicholls football started with his freshman season in 2016. In the first 20 seasons of the 21st century, Laiche ranks in the top five of FCS players in career sacks (37½) and top 15 of career tackles for loss (62). - Craig Haley

18 19 Setting the University of Montana’s single-season record for tackles was so much fun for linebacker Dante Olson in 2018 that he decided to do it again this season.

There’s quite a bit of cyborg in the machine, who as a redshirt senior totaled an FCS-high and Big Sky Conference single-season record 179 stops while helping the Grizzlies get back to the FCS playoffs for the first time since 2015. The third-place finisher in the 2018 Buck Buchanan Award voting is in the running again for national defensive player of the year.

Highly decorated off the field, Olson’s best work may be his pen-pal mentorship with a class of underprivileged grad-school students in Northern farm country. That’s saying something considering his many academic accolades and on-the-field exploits, which includes an incredible 330 of his school-record 393 tackles over his final two seasons. He reached double figures in nine of 11 games in 2018 and made there it 10 more times in 14 games in 2019, when he also had 11 tackles for loss, 3½ sacks, two takeaways and two forced fumbles.

“He’s just a humble guy that works his tail off. He wants to be good, and he’s not satisfied unless he improves,” Montana coach said. “Then personally, he’s just a wonderful guy to be around. He’s good, not just at football, he’s a good person. He’s a great guy.”

Olson, who grew up in a football family – his father Jeff was the former head coach at Southern Oregon University for nine years – returned to his home state in September to take on the Oregon Ducks. All he did was make some impressive tackles in the open field while racking up a game-high 14 tackles, including 10 solos.

- Craig Haley

20 21 Alex Pechin’s punting skills were raw when he entered Bucknell University, and he heads toward a potential NFL career feeling the same way … because he’s always seeking improvement.

When he ultimately settles into perhaps his true calling in life, the Doris Robinson Award recipient will seek to bring improvement to different medical devices. The biomedical engineering and management for engineers double major has already put his skills to work.

A three-time Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year, who carries a 3.9 grade point average, he interned for two summers in the research and development department of a company that delivers therapeutics to cure genetic diseases of the eye. For his senior design project, Pechin and classmates created an ultrasound simulator that would allow surgeons and residents to practice skills. To complete his five-year dual degree program, Pechin is doing research on how surfaces affect playground-related injuries.

“Having that connection between engineering and the human body is definitely where I want to place myself,” said Pechin, who’s active in Bucknell’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and Leadership Institute.

Pechin, pronounced PEACH-in, is a two-time STATS first-team All-American. He averaged an FCS-high 47.3 yards in his final season, helping Bucknell to also rank No. 1 nationally in net punting average (43.4). He owns the four best single-season punting averages in Bucknell history, and over his career, the 6-foot, 210-pound pro prospect averaged 44.5 yards on 296 punts, with 95 going for at least 50 yards.

Don’t be misled, though, those raw skills have developed. His big foot has gotten stronger, he’s added backspin for punting toward an opponent’s 20-yard line and he can direct punts to trap a returner.

- Craig Haley 22 23 To underscore Troy Taylor’s coaching acumen, consider his two seasons in the Big Sky Conference:

In 2016, he was the co- and quarterbacks coach at Eastern Washington, and the Eagles set numerous school records with one of the nation’s most prolific offenses, including quarterback passing for an FCS single-season record 5,160 yards.

This season at Sacramento State – his first as a college head coach – the Hornets were the most-improved in the FCS, going from a 2-8 record in 2018 to 9-4 while capturing a share of the Big Sky Conference title and qualifying for the FCS playoffs for the first time.

Behind Taylor’s play calling, the Hornets offense set various program records, including for touchdowns, points scored, passing yards, first downs and total plays run. Named the Big Sky coach of the year, he is the second straight from the conference to receive the Eddie Robinson Award as the FCS coach of the year (UC Davis’ was the 2018 recipient).

“I’m honored to be chosen as the Eddie Robinson Award winner,” said the 51-year-old Taylor, who grew up in the Sacramento area. “The success we had this season at Sacramento State is due to the contribution of many administrators, support staff, coaches and, of course, our incredibly committed and resilient players. I accept this award on behalf of all those involved that have made this season a success.”

The Hornets’ season was highlighted by a sweep of three nationally ranked Big Sky opponents – traditional powers Eastern Washington, Montana State and Montana – during a 15-day span in October. Fifteen Hornets earned All-Big Sky honors – up from just two in 2018 – led by quarterback Kevin Thomson, the conference’s offensive player of the year. - Craig Haley 24 25 STATS PERFORM FCS AWARDS NAMESAKES

WALTER PAYTON AWARD At 6-foot-7, 287 pounds, Junious “Buck” Buchanan was the FCS OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR prototype for future NFL defensive linemen. He combined size, speed and outstanding strength, along with an intense work , 1971-74 ethic, to become one of the great defensive tackles of all time. , 1975-87 He entered Grambling State on an “if” scholarship, which PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME, 1993 meant he would receive financial aid if he played well. After COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME, 1996 a season of playing both varsity football and basketball, he decided to concentrate on football. By the end of Buchanan’s The Walter Payton Award, established by All-America career, Grambling coach Eddie Robinson called in 1987 and now presented by Stats Perform, honors the him “the finest tackle I have ever seen.” outstanding offensive college football player on the FCS level. The winner is chosen by a national panel of sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other The League’s Dallas Texans, who would dignitaries. become the , orchestrated a 1963 draft day trade to select Buchanan with the No. 1 overall pick. The Chiefs When the Payton Award was established, it was the only went on to join the NFL in 1970, and Buchanan had a streak of such award to be presented to an individual player in the eight straight selections to either the AFL All-Star Team or the FCS. Payton, who played collegiately at Jackson State, set NFL . His teams won two AFL championships and the NCAA record for points scored in a career with 464. He IV, and he missed only one game due to injury in scored 66 touchdowns and rushed for 3,563 yards at the his 13-year career. Southwestern Athletic Conference school, also serving as a place-kicker. He set nine school records during his career.

But Payton’s collegiate accomplishments pale in comparison to the numbers he posted with the Chicago Bears. He set JERRY RICE AWARD the NFL career rushing record with 16,726 yards (later bested FCS FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR by ) and scored 750 points in his career. He was a two-time NFL MVP, a Super Bowl XX champion and MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE, 1981-84 a nine-time Pro Bowl selection, and was named to the NFL’s prestigious 75th anniversary team. 49ERS, RAIDERS, SEAHAWKS, 1985-2004 COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME, 2006 As dynamic as he was on the field, Payton was equally active PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME, 2010 in charitable work off the field. He was honorary chairman for the 1983 Heart Association Jump Rope for Health, and for the The Jerry Rice Award, established by The Sports Network Illinois Mental Heath Association from 1978-80. He also was involved with the Boy Scouts, March of Dimes, Brian Piccolo in 2011 and now presented by Stats Perform, honors the Research Fund, United Way and Peace Corps. outstanding college football freshman on the FCS level. The winner is chosen by a national panel of sports information In 1999, the NFL renamed its annual humanitarian award the and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. Payton was the dignitaries. 1977 recipient. If you thought Jerry Rice’s style of play was different from anything you had ever seen before, you weren’t alone. “Jerry Rice is on a whole other planet,” said former NFL BUCK BUCHANAN AWARD FCS DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR . “We’re on earth; he’s somewhere else.”

GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY, 1959-62 A “blue ribbon” panel assembled by the NFL Network in 2010 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS, 1963-75 agreed with Carter, voting Rice as the greatest player of all PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME, 1990 time. But before he embarked on his Hall of Fame career, COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME, 1996 Rice refined his skills at Mississippi Valley State on the FCS (then Division I-AA) level. It was in the Southwestern Athletic The Buck Buchanan Award, established by The Sports Conference that he was a two-time first-team All-American, Network in 1995 and now presented by Stats Perform, honors finishing his career with 310 receptions for 4,851 yards and 50 the outstanding defensive college football player on the FCS touchdowns. It included 27 TD receptions in 1984 – the record level. The winner is chosen by a national panel of sports for all NCAA divisions. information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries. The traded up in the first round of the 26 STATS PERFORM FCS AWARDS NAMESAKES

1985 NFL Draft to select Rice and he rewarded them with athlete who excels not only in the classroom, but in the a record-setting career while they won three Super Bowls community and beyond. He is selected from 13 finalists – one (XXIII, XXIV and XXIX). He was a 13-time Pro Bowl selection, from each FCS conference. two-time AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year and Super Doris Robinson was the wife of legendary Grambling State Bowl XXIII MVP. His many records include NFL career marks football coach Eddie Robinson, for whom the FCS coach of the for receptions (1,549), receiving yards (22,895), touchdown year award is named. Mrs. Robinson spent her life dedicated receptions (197) and touchdowns scored (208). to educating young people. Known as the “Eternal First Lady of GSU Football,” and called “Miss Doris” by everyone on the Grambling campus, she was a former school teacher in the local community. Eddie’s college sweetheart, EDDIE ROBINSON AWARD she stood by his side throughout a career at Grambling that FCS COACH OF THE YEAR spanned 57 years from 1941 to 1997. They were married for 66 years until Eddie died in 2007. She passed in 2015. GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY, 1941-77 FCS’ ALL-TIME WINNINGEST COACH COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME MICKEY CHARLES FCS LEGACY AWARDS The Eddie Robinson Award, established by The Sports Network in 1987 and now presented by Stats Perform, honors Mickey Charles is the former CEO and the outstanding college football coach on the FCS level. The President of The Sports Network who winner is chosen by a national panel of sports information created the FCS Awards, starting with and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other the Walter Payton and Eddie Robinson dignitaries. awards in 1987. He recognized a gap in national coverage of the former Division I-AA level of college Coach Robinson’s 408 career victories are the most among football, and his company also created a weekly Top 25 media FCS schools and only one less than ’s Division poll ranking the best teams across the nation. I-record total at Penn State. In 1997, Robinson retired at Grambling State with a 408-164-15 record over 57 years (55 Raised in New York, Charles graduated high school when seasons). His teams won nine black college football national he was 15 and went on to Columbia University for two years championships. of studies and basketball before he transferred to Division III Kalamazoo College, where he was a basketball captain He arrived at Grambling in 1941 and took the program from and earned an appreciation for the smaller levels of college an obscure level to international popularity, playing in many athletics. He went on to Brooklyn Law School. major U.S. cities as well as in the first game in Japan to involve college teams (versus Morgan State in 1976). His background includes a wide range of interests and accomplishments, including newspaper syndication, national More than 200 of Robinson’s players went on to NFL careers. sports talk shows, features writing, seminar speaking and They included Paul “Tank” Younger, the first player from consulting. He was a pioneer in the audiotex industry, forming a predominantly black college to be taken by the NFL (Los a sports telecommunications group originally focused on Angeles Rams, 1949), and Pro Football Hall-of-Famers such telephonic-delivered sports information, which evolved into the as Willie Brown, Buck Buchanan, Willie Davis and Charlie Computer Information Network, the international wire service Joiner. His pupils also included Super Bowl XXII MVP Doug that came to be known in the industry as The Sports Network. Williams, who succeeded Robinson as Grambling’s coach in

1998. Stats Perform purchased The Sports Network from Charles in February 2015.

DORIS ROBINSON SCHOLAR-ATHLETE AWARD FCS SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

The Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award, presented by Stats Perform since 2015, honors an FCS student- 27 PAST FCS AWARDS WINNERS

2018 Zach Hall Southeast Missouri St. Linebacker WALTER PAYTON AWARD *- Stats Perform FCS Defensive Player of the Year FCS Offensive Player of the Year

Year Player School Position JERRY RICE AWARD 1987 Kenny Gamble Colgate FCS Freshman Player of the Year 1988 Towson State Running Back 1989 Quarterback Year Player School Position 1990 Grambling State Running Back 2011 Towson Running Back 1991 Jamie Martin Weber State Quarterback 2012 John Robertson Villanova Quarterback 1992 Marshall Quarterback 2013 Eastern Washington Wide Receiver 1993 Idaho Quarterback 2014 Fordham Running Back 1994 Steve McNair Alcorn State Quarterback 2015 Case Cookus Northern Arizona Quarterback 1995 Montana Quarterback 2016 A.J. Hines Duquesne Running Back 1996 Northern Arizona Running Back 2017 Bryson Armstrong Kennesaw State Linebacker 1997 Villanova Wide Receiver 2018 Josh Davis Weber State Running Back 1998 New Hampshire Running Back 1999 Adrian Peterson Georgia Southern Running Back EDDIE ROBINSON AWARD 2000 Furman Running Back FCS Coach of the Year 2001 Villanova Running Back 2002 Eastern Illinois Quarterback Year Coach School 2003 Colgate Running Back 1987 Holy Cross 2004 William & Mary Quarterback 1988 Bill Russo Lafayette 2005 Eastern Washington Quarterback 1989 Georgia Southern 2006 New Hampshire Quarterback 1990 Gene McDowell Central Florida 2007 Georgia Southern Quarterback 1991 Nevada 2008 Appalachian State Quarterback 1992 The Citadel 2009 Armanti Edwards Appalachian State Quarterback 1993 Dan Allen Boston University 2010 Stephen F. Austin Quarterback 1994 Youngstown State 2011 Eastern Washington Quarterback 1995 Murray State 2012 Old Dominion Quarterback 1996 Darren Barbier Nicholls State 2013 Jimmy Garoppolo Eastern Illinois Quarterback 1997 Villanova 2014 John Robertson Villanova Quarterback 1998 Paul Johnson Georgia Southern 2015 Cooper Kupp Eastern Washington Wide Receiver 1999 James Madison 2016 Sam Houston State Quarterback 2000 Joe Glenn Montana 2017 Jeremiah Briscoe Sam Houston State Quarterback 2001 Lehigh 2018 Samford Quarterback 2002 McNeese State 2003 Wofford BUCK BUCHANAN AWARD 2004 Southern Illinois FCS Defensive Player of the Year 2005 Sean McDonnell New Hampshire 2006 Jerry Moore Appalachian State Year Player School Position 2007 Northern Iowa 1995 Appalachian State Linebacker 2008 Mickey Matthews James Madison 1996 Dexter Coakley Appalachian State Linebacker 2009 Henry Frazier III Prairie View A&M 1997 Chris McNeil North Carolina A&T Defensive End 2010 Southeast Missouri State 1998 James Milton Western Illinois Linebacker 2011 Towson 1999 Al Lucas Troy State 2012 North Dakota State 2000 Western Illinois Linebacker 2013 Craig Bohl North Dakota State 2001 Derrick Lloyd James Madison Linebacker 2014 Sean McDonnell New Hampshire 2002 Bethune-Cookman 2015 Coastal Carolina 2003 Idaho State Defensive End *2015 Portland State 2004 Cal Poly Linebacker 2016 K.C. Keeler Sam Houston State 2005 Cal Poly Defensive End 2017 Austin Peay 2006 Kyle Shotwell Cal Poly Linebacker 2018 Dan Hawkins UC Davis 2007 Montana Defensive End *- Stats Perform FCS Coach of the Year 2008 Eastern Washington Defensive End 2009 Arthur Moats James Madison Defensive End 2010 J.C. Sherritt Eastern Washington Linebacker DORIS ROBINSON SCHOLAR-ATHLETE 2011 Matt Evans New Hampshire Linebacker OF THE YEAR AWARD 2012 Caleb Schreibeis Montana State Defensive End 2013 Brad Daly Montana State Defensive End Year Player School Position 2014 North Dakota State Defensive End 2015 Dalton Screws Jacksonville State Wide Receiver 2015 Norfolk State Linebacker 2016 Tyler Swafford Eastern Kentucky Quarterback *2015 Tyrone Holmes Montana Defensive End 2017 Jake Wieneke South Dakota State Wide Receiver 2016 Karter Schult Northern Iowa Defensive End 2018 Christopher Infantino Stony Brook Offensive Lineman 2017 Darius Jackson Jacksonville State Defensive End 28 29 30 MASTER OF CEREMONIES • GARY REASONS

Master of Ceremonies Gary 83. He also set the single-season mark of 172 tackles in his Reasons was an FCS (then senior year. An honors student, the Crowley, Texas, native Division I-AA) First Team graduated with a degree in business administration. All-America linebacker at Northwestern State, the Drafted into the NFL by the in the fourth first player in NCAA history round in 1984, the 6-foot-4, 235-pound Reasons spent to gain the prestigious eight years with the club, helping it win Super Bowls honor three consecutive XXI and XXV under head coach . Reasons, seasons (1981-83). , and comprised a linebacker corps that is recognized as one of the greatest A college football television analyst for FOX Sports, in NFL history. He finished his nine-year NFL career with a Reasons is in his 26th season as a broadcaster. He also final season in Cincinnati. is President of Pro Athletes Team, which brings unique business and healthcare value services to companies Reasons served as the first head coach of the Oklahoma and hospital partners while also creating philanthropy for City Yard Dawgz of arenafootball2 and later spent one year hospital foundations, university athletics and various non- as the team’s president. In 2016, the Crowley Independent profit organizations. School District voted unanimously to rename the field at Crowley High School’s Eagle Stadium after Reasons. Reasons was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1996 as part of the inaugural group of small college He and his wife Terri have been married for 35 years and players. Northwestern State retired his No. 34 jersey after have three children. The Reasons reside in McKinney, he set the school’s all-time tackles mark (394) from 1980- Texas.

STATS PERFORM FCS AWARDS VOTING PANEL

Stats Perform: Craig Haley; Brian Orefice, Larson; Dan Loney; Tim Williamson. Mid- Ryan Sakamoto; Brendan Thomas. Pioneer Jarrett Payton, Jerry Rice. Big Sky Eastern Athletic Conference: Derek Bryant; Football League: Jake Brewer; Cody Bush; Conference: Brian Berger; Brad Bugger; Bill Hamilton; Matt Michalec; Kyle Serba; Jay Mike Ferraro; Doug Hauschild; Todd Ickow; Eric Burdick; Frank Gogola; Paul Grua; Mark Walker; Maurice Williams. Missouri Valley Scott Manze; Ryan Wronkowicz. Southern Honbo; Jon Kasper; Doug Kelly; Bill Lamberty; Football Conference: Bryan Boettcher, Jason Conference: Jay Blackman; Kevin Brown; Mike Lund; Colter Nuanez; Jon Oglesby; Steve Hove; Ace Hunt; Dom Izzo; Mike Kern; Jeff John Brush; Daniel Hooker; Joey Mullins; Schaack; Randy Scovil; Mitch Strohman; Eric Kolpack; Tim McCaughan; Jim Nelson; Patrick Hunter Reid; Robbie Ross; Todd Shanesy; Taber; Denise Thompson; Larry Weir. Big South Osterman; Trevor Parks; Ryan Perreault; Dan Shirley; Jamie Williams; Brent Williamson. Conference: David Beall; John Bednarowski; Randy Reinhardt; Jeff Schwartz; Tom Weber; Southland Conference: Jason Barfield; Matt Harmon; Jim Heath; Jeff Hodges; Marc Mike Williams, Jerek Wolcott. Northeast David Berry; Matthew Bonnette; Jamie Bustos; Rabb; Mark Simpson; Greg Viscomi; Jason Conference: John Beisser; Brian Cleary; Zachary Carlton; Kemmler Chapple; Josh Williams. CAA Football: Chris Brooks; Scott Liam Halferty; Tristan Hobbes; Tad Maurey; Criswell; James Dixon; Harold Mann; Jason Day; Shane Donaldson; Glenn Frazer; Pete Casey Schermick; Ralph Ventre. Ohio Valley Pugh; Russ Reneau; Teddy Renois; Josh Yonis. Iorizzo; Dean Kenefick; Scott Klatzkin; Allen Conference: Alex Boggis; Neal Bradley; Southwestern Athletic Conference: Travis Lessels; Greg Madia; Matt McCollester; Tyson Kevin Britton; Thomas Corhern; Jose’ Garcia; Jarome; Ronnie Johnson; Robbie Kleinmuntz; McHatten; Brian Miller; Mike Murphy; Scott Parker Griffith; Jeff Honza; Rich Moser; Karl Duane Lewis. Other Representatives: Josh Selheimer; Adam Smith; Kevin Tresolini; Rob Park: Mike Parris; Justin Rust; Kyle Schwartz; Buchanan; David Hashagen; Sam Herder; Turner; Rob Washburn, Andrew Wilson. FCS Josh Underwood. Patriot League: Charles Emory Hunt; Brett Huston; Kris Kallem; Independent: Alec Stocker Johnson; Ivy Bare; Joe DiBari; Jen Dobias; Keith Groller; Brandon Lawrence; Brian McLaughlin; Jon League: Rick Bender; Chas Dorman; Greg Kevin Herr; Mike Joseph; Steve Lomangino; Passman; Jim Seman; Lawrence Smith; Phil Hotchkiss; Chris Humm; Sam Knehans; Craig Eric Malanowski; Matt Markus; John Painter, Sokol; Reggie Thomas.

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