Troy Andersen
Photo by: Garrett Becker
Bobcat Senior Troy Andersen Invited to Stats Perform FCS Awards Ceremony as One of Top Three in Voting by National Panel
12/8/2021 10:03:00 AM | Football
Senior linebacker is reigning Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year
BOZEMAN, Montana – Troy Andersen, Montana State's star linebacker and the 2021 Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Year, is among the top three in votes received for this year's Stats Perform Buck Buchanan Award and is therefore invited to the FCS National Awards Banquet on January 7 in Frisco, Texas.
Andersen joins Florida A&M's Isaiah Land and Patrick O'Connell of the University of Montana as those invited to the ceremony, slated the night before the NCAA Division I Football Championship Game in Frisco. Winners of the Walter Payton Award for the FCS offensive player of the year, the Jerry Rice Award for freshman of the year, and Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year are also announced at that event.
Andersen is the first Bobcat to advance to the final three of a Stats Perform award since defensive ends Caleb Schreibeis (2012) and Brad Daly (2013) won the Buchanan in consecutive years. The 6-4, 235 lb senior from Dillon, Montana, rang up 111 tackles this season, including 57 solos, with 9.5 tackles-for-loss and two sacks. He picked off two passes, returning one for a touchdown, and broke up seven others. Andersen also recovered a fumble and hurried the quarterback once.
Land, a junior, logged 25.5 tackles-for-loss and 19 sacks among his 43 total tackles while earning Southwestern Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors. O'Connell, a junior, recorded 91 tackles, which included 40 solos, 13 sacks, and 19.5 tackles behind the line.
Andersen earned 2021 Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year honors, becoming the eighth Bobcat so honored, and looks to become a three-time All-America when those awards are doled out.
#GoCatsGo
Andersen joins Florida A&M's Isaiah Land and Patrick O'Connell of the University of Montana as those invited to the ceremony, slated the night before the NCAA Division I Football Championship Game in Frisco. Winners of the Walter Payton Award for the FCS offensive player of the year, the Jerry Rice Award for freshman of the year, and Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year are also announced at that event.
Andersen is the first Bobcat to advance to the final three of a Stats Perform award since defensive ends Caleb Schreibeis (2012) and Brad Daly (2013) won the Buchanan in consecutive years. The 6-4, 235 lb senior from Dillon, Montana, rang up 111 tackles this season, including 57 solos, with 9.5 tackles-for-loss and two sacks. He picked off two passes, returning one for a touchdown, and broke up seven others. Andersen also recovered a fumble and hurried the quarterback once.
Land, a junior, logged 25.5 tackles-for-loss and 19 sacks among his 43 total tackles while earning Southwestern Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors. O'Connell, a junior, recorded 91 tackles, which included 40 solos, 13 sacks, and 19.5 tackles behind the line.
Andersen earned 2021 Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year honors, becoming the eighth Bobcat so honored, and looks to become a three-time All-America when those awards are doled out.
#GoCatsGo
Players Mentioned
RB/LB
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