Voting begins for STATS FCS Defensive Award

(STATS) - Voting for the STATS FCS Defensive Player of the Year got underway Monday with 25 finalists from across the FCS. All 13 FCS conferences were

(STATS) - Voting for the STATS FCS Defensive Player of the Year got underway Monday with 25 finalists from across the FCS.

All 13 FCS conferences were represented by at least one finalist.

A national panel of sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries select the winner, which is based on the regular season.

The top three in votes will be invited to the announcement of the winner at the STATS FCS Awards Banquet and Presentation, scheduled for Jan. 8 in Frisco, Texas, on the eve of the FCS championship game.

The STATS FCS Defensive Player of the Year finalists:

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Kourtney Berry, LB, Alabama State - 120 TT (52 solo), 5 TFL, 1 SK, 2 FR (10 games)

Don Cherry, LB, Villanova - 88 TT (36 solo), 12.5 TFL, 3 SK, 1 PBU, 2 QBH, 1 FR, 2 FF, 1 TD (11 games)

James Cowser, DE, Southern Utah - 62 TT (29 solo), 17 TFL, 11 SK, 3 QBH, 2 FR with 100 return yards and 1 TD, 3 FF (11 games)

Keionta Davis, DE, Chattanooga - 36 TT (26 solo), 14 TFL, 10.5 SK, 6 PBU, 6 QBH, 1 FR (11 games)

Dee Delaney, CB, The Citadel - 41 TT (32 solo), 5 INTs with 86 return yards and 1 TD; 8 PBU, 1 FR with 1 TD, 2 FF, 1 BLK (11 games)

Tyler Drake, LB, Penn - 80 TT (45 solo), 12.5 TFL, 8.5 SK, 2 INTs, 1 QBH, 1 FR, 4 FF (10 games)

Deiondre' Hall, CB, Northern Iowa - 69 TT (48 solo), 4.5 TFL, 6 INTs with 100 return yards and 2 TDs, 3 PBU, 2 FF (11 games)

P.J. Hall, DE, Sam Houston State - 48 TT (33 solo), 13 TFL, 7 SK, 1 INT, 2 PBU, 1 FR, 1 FF (11 games)

Javon Hargrave, DT, South Carolina State - 59 TT (43 solo), 22 TFL, 13.5 SK, 11 QBH, 2 BLK (11 games)

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Stephen Hodge, LB, Fordham - 109 TT (61 solo), 10.5 TFL, 2.5 SK, 3 INTs with 1 TD, 3 PBU, 2 QBH, 1 FR, 2 FF, 1 BLK (11 games)

Tyrone Holmes, DE, Montana - 77 TT (28 solo), 17.5 TFL, 14 SK, 7 QBH, 2 FF (11 games)

Jermaine Hough, CB, Jacksonville State - 27 TT (14 solo), 2 TFL, 1 SK, 1 INT, 2 PBU (11 games)

DeAndre Houston-Carson, FS, William & Mary - 86 TT (52 solo), 4.5 TFL, 1 SK, 4 INTs with 124 return yards and 1 TD, 1 FF, 2 BLK (11 games)

John Hugunin, LB, Drake - 115 TT (68 solo), 15 TFL, 5 SK, 2 INTs, 4 PBU, 2 QBH, 3 FR, 9 FF, 1 BLK, 1 SAF (11 games)

Deon King, LB, Norfolk State - 163 TT (77 solo), 11 TFL, 3 SK, 1 INT, 1 PBU, 2 PBU, 1 FF (11 games)

Christian Kuntz, LB, Duquesne - 65 TT (42 solo), 23 TFL, 9 SK, 4 INTs with 2 TDs, 6 PBU, 6 QBH, 1 FR, 1 FF (11 games)

O.J. Mau, NT, Gardner-Webb - 60 TT (26 solo), 14 TFL, 4.5 SK, 1 PBU, 5 QBH, 1 BLK (11 games)

Harlan Miller, Southeastern Louisiana - 49 TT (40 solo), 5.5 TFL, 4 INTs with 76 return yards, 10 PBU, 1 BLK (11 games)

Victor Ochi, DE, Stony Brook - 47 TT (29 solo), 16.5 TFL, 13 SK, 1 QBH, 1 FF (10 games)

Patrick Onwuasor, S, Portland State - 75 TT (39 solo), 2 TFL, 9 INTs with 157 return yards (11 games)

Derek Rivers, DE, Youngstown State - 52 TT (38 solo), 15.5 TFL, 8 SK, 13 QBH, 1 FF (11 games)

Darnell Sankey, LB, Sacramento State - 153 TT (57 solo), 9 TFL, 3.5 SK, 5 PBU, 1 FF (11 games)

Noah Spence, DE, Eastern Kentucky - 63 TT (31 solo), 22.5 TFL, 11.5 SK, 15 QBH, 2 FR, 3 FF (11 games)

Myke Tavarres, LB, Incarnate Word - 110 TT (66 solo), 22.5 TFL, 8.5 SK, 5 PBU, 7 QBH, 3 FF (11 games)

Chima Uzowihe, DE, Liberty - 52 TT (34 solo), 17 TFL, 8 SK, 4 PBU, 6 QBH, 1 FF (11 games)