NEW YORK — Senior Hayden McDonald of Columbia football has been named a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, given to the national defensive player of the year in Division I FCS college football. McDonald is one of 35 student-athletes up for the honor.
The award is named for legendary defensive lineman Junious "Buck" Buchanan, who starred at Grambling State as part of his Hall of Fame career. Past recipients include Dexter Coakley, Rashean Mathis, Jared Allen and Arthur Moats.
A native of Seattle, Washington, led the Ivy League with five interceptions and currently ranks No. 2 in FCS in interceptions per game. McDonald added seven pass breakups and registered 68 tackles, both good for second on the team.
He was named Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week after picking off two passes in a win over Princeton on October 5. Columbia was 7-0 when McDonald posted at least seven tackles and 4-0 when he intercepted a pass. His final interception helped the Lions seal a victory against Cornell on their way to a share of its first Ivy League Championship since 1961.
All 13 FCS conferences are represented by a finalist. The winner, to be selected by a national voting panel, will be announced at the Stats Perform FCS National Awards Banquet on Jan. 4 in Frisco, Texas.
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