MSU's Schreibeis Wins Buchanan Award
Sports Network Release
Caleb Schreibeis began his career at Montana State as a walk-on. He finished it by capturing the Buck Buchanan Award.
Schreibeis, the senior defensive end from Billings, Mont., will accept the Buck Buchanan Award from The Sports Network on Monday night at the Football Championship Subdivision Awards Ceremony.
“It hasn’t really sunk in yet, the magnitude of it, but it’s a great honor,’’ Schreibeis said. “I’ll always remember the friendships I made here, laughing and joking with (defensive line) Coach (Bo) Beck and the guys in the meeting room, lining up and working hard for the same goal next to these guys. I don’t think that is repeatable anywhere else in life. Coach Beck has made playing on the D-line and playing in this program fun, and Coach Ash has been great. I’m proud that I played for Montana State.”
Schreibeis became the first Montana State player to win one of The Sports Network National Player of the Year Awards. He is the fifth player Big Sky player and the fourth in the last six years to capture the Buchanan, which has been awarded to the top defensive player in the FCS since 1995.
The Big Sky has won more Buchanan Awards than any other FCS conference. Schreibeis joins Idaho State’s Jared Allen (2003), Montana’s Kroy Biermann (2007), Eastern Washington’s Greg Peach (2008) and Eastern Washington’s J.C. Sherritt (2010) as past winners.
Allen is an All-Pro defensive end for the Minnesota Vikings. Biermann is a defensive end for the Atlanta Falcons. Peach plays defensive end for the Hamilton TigerCats in the CFL, while Sherritt is a linebacker for the Edmonton Eskimos in the CFL. Sherritt was named the CFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2012, setting a single-season record for tackles.
Schreibeis, a 6-foot-3, 252-pounder from Billings West High School, led the nation in forced fumbles with eight. He finished the season leading the Big Sky in sacks with 12.5 and tackles for loss with 15. He tallied 59 total tackles with seven quarterback hurries and four passes broken up.
“Caleb is one of the hardest working players I’ve ever coached,’’ said Montana State head coach Rob Ash. “His work ethic lifted the whole team and permeates our entire program. He shows that a player with talent who dedicates himself to working and getting better can accomplish great things. He had a fabulous senior season. The Buck Buchanan Award is a great honor for him, one which he’s earned, and I couldn’t be more proud.”
Schreibeis earned 35 first-place votes, 18 second-place votes, 14 third-place votes, nine fourth-place votes and 12 fifth-place votes for a total of 319 total points. Jeremy Kimbrough of Appalachian State was second with 287 points, followed by Brandon Thurmond of Arkansas-Pine Bluff with 232. Georgetown's Robert McCabe was fourth with 218, and 2011 winner Matt Evans was fifth with 182.
Montana linebacker Jordan Tripp finished 10th in voting with 88 points. He earned three first-place votes.
Schreibeis was named First Team All-Conference, and has been selected as a First Team All-American by The Sports Network and the Associated Press.
Schreibeis was not listed on the Buchanan Watch List until the final ballot was released to voters.
The mechanical engineering technology major helped Montana State to a share of its third straight conference title in 2011. Montana State finished the regular season 7-1 in league and 10-1 overall. The Bobcats drew the No. 3 seed in the playoffs, downing Stony Brook 16-10 in the second round before losing in the quarterfinals to Sam Houston State 34-16.
“Caleb improved himself as an athlete so much through hard work, and he mastered technique,’’ Beck said. “His work in those areas together made him a better player, and allowed him to play so fast that (offensive linemen) just couldn’t keep up with him.”
Villanova quarterback John Robertson won the Jerry Rice Award as the top freshman in the FCS. Robertson earned 56 of 145 first-place votes and 412 total points.
Southern Utah linebacker Zak Browning finished fifth. He earned eight first-place votes and 175 total points. Eastern Washington quarterback Vernon Adams was sixth. He garnered 12 first-place votes and 173 total points.
Portland State QB Kieran McDonagh was eighth with 89 total points. Southern Utah defensive end James Cowser was 10
th with 52 total points. North Dakota wide receiver Jameer Jackson was 16
th with 21 total points.
North Dakota State's Craig Bohl won the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award. Bohl led the Bison to the 2011 national championship, and will try for a repeat against Sam Houston State. Bohl earned 42 first-place votes and 364 total points. Cal Poly's Tim Walsh was fourth with 153 total points. Eastern Washington's Beau Baldwin was fifth with 147 total points. Walsh earned six first-place votes. Baldwin earned seven.