By: By Jake Dorow
STATS FCS RELEASE
KENNESAW – Kennesaw State's redshirt freshman LB
Bryson Armstrong has been named the winner of the STATS FCS Jerry Rice Award as the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) National Freshman of the Year, it was announced Tuesday afternoon.
Armstrong, a Marietta, Ga., native, is the first defensive player to win the award in its seven years of existence.
"Winning such a prestigious award is a great honor for Bryson," head coach
Brian Bohannon said. "There is nobody more deserving of the Jerry Rice Award than him. It is a testament to his hard work on and off the field.
"Bryson was able to rise to prominence as one of the top defensive players in the county and it speaks volumes of his character, hard work, and leadership," added Bohannon. "I am certain that he will only get better as his career progresses and I'm excited to see his growth as a person. Bryson is a true example of how to represent Kennesaw State and I am very proud of him."
Armstrong was a three-time Big South Conference Freshman of the Week winner, a Big South Defensive Player of the Week, a STATS FCS National Player of the Week, and two-time STATS FCS National Player of the Week Honorable Mention.
He finished the 2017 campaign with 114 total tackles (85 solo), 12.5 tackles for loss, 11.0 sacks, three interceptions, seven pass breakups, one quarterback hurry, four recovered fumbles, three forced fumbles and one blocked kick.
"All of this wouldn't be possible without my Lord and Savior, my family, and my coaches and teammates, said Armstrong. "I love each and every one of them and could not thank them enough for all the support this season."
Armstrong broke the KSU single-game record for most tackles, totaling 16 (11 solo) versus Samford (Nov. 25) in the first round of the FCS Playoffs, and his 11 solo tackles versus the Bulldogs were also a single-game record. His 11 sacks broke KSU's single-season record.
Armstrong (STATS FCS Jerry Rice) will join the STATS FCS Awards Banquet and Presentation scheduled for January 5 in Frisco, Texas, on the eve of the national championship game.
The STATS FCS Walter Payton Award, Buck Buchanan Award (FCS Defensive Player of the Year), STATS FCS Eddie Robinson Award, and the STATS FCS Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year will be presented.
The voting panel consists of over 150 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries. Voting is based on the regular season.
The complete results were as follows:
1. Bryson Armstrong, LB, Kennesaw State: 29-32-12-12-14-347
2. Zane Dudek, RB, Yale: 19-31-26-20-9-346
3. Gresch Jensen, QB, Montana: 18-13-13-17-22-237
4. Daniel Smith, QB, Campbell: 21-11-12-4-7-200
5. Davis Cheek, QB, Elon: 16-10-15-8-12-193
6. Jabril Cox, LB, North Dakota State: 7-13-13-12-9-159
7. Caylin Newton, QB, Howard: 14-6-12-12-3-157
8. Franklin McCain III, CB, North Carolina A&T: 5-10-13-16-9-145
9. Peter Guerriero, RB, Monmouth: 5-6-9-11-13-111
10. Grant Breneman, QB, Colgate: 7-3-4-6-6-77
11. Anthony Knighton, DE, Southern Illinois: 2-1-2-7-11-45
12. Reynard Ellis, LB, Furman: 2-3-4-3-4-44
13. Troy Anderson, RB/LB, Montana State: 3-1-4-3-2-39
14. Wesley Dugger, RB, Davidson: 0-3-4-4-3-35
15. Vincent Sellers, S, Tennessee State: 0-4-3-1-1-28
16. Kierre Crossley, RB, Central Arkansas: 1-1-1-3-9-27
17. Kaelan Riley, QB, Mercer: 1-0-2-3-9-26
18. Torrance Marable, RB, Presbyterian: 1-1-1-2-3-19
19. Jaron Grayer, LB. Maine: 0-1-0-4-4-16
20. Glenn Cunningham, LB, Fordham: 0-1-1-3-1-14
A first-place vote was worth five points, a second-place vote four points, a third-place vote three points, a fourth-place vote two points and a fifth-place vote one point.
Fifth Third Bank is the Official Bank of Kennesaw State Athletics. Fifth Third Bank Stadium, the signature athletics landmark on the Kennesaw State University campus, is a world-class facility that has been recognized as one of the premier multi-use outdoor athletics venues in the country. In the fall of 2015, it become the official home of Owls football team and is home to Owls soccer and lacrosse as well.
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