MSU's Daly Earns Big Sky's Sixth Buchanan Award
Sports Network Story
Montana State’s Brad Daly was named the winner of the 2013 Buck Buchanan Award on Monday by The Sports Network.
Daly, a senior from Helena, Mont., became the second straight Montana State Bobcat to win the Buck Buchanan Award, given annually since 1995 to the nation’s top defensive player.
Daly, a 6-foot-1, 240-pounder, was named the Co-Defensive Big Sky MVP after leading the nation in sacks with 14 and tying for the national lead with 20.5 tackles for loss. Daly follows former teammate Caleb Schreibeis as a Buchanan winner. Schreibeis, also a defensive end, captured the award in 2012.
“This is a great honor,’’ Daly said. “I definitely wasn’t happy with how the season went for our team, but I couldn’t have done anything I did without all the guys on our defense. It was a fun season individually, and it was a fun season with my teammates, hanging out with the guys on the team in the locker room and on trips. Those are my best memories.’’
Daly earned 64 first-place votes from the panel of 147 sports information directors, writers, broadcasters and other dignitaries from across the nation. He received 485 total points. James Madison’s Stephon Robertson was second with 43 first-place votes and 421 total points.
Daly tallied 68 total tackles. He also had an interception, two forced fumbles, two blocked kicks, a fumble recovery and seven quarterback hurries.
“Brad Daly was the heart and soul of our defense this year,’’ said Montana State coach Rob Ash. “To watch how hard he worked and see how much this program means to him was very inspiring for me, and I think for everyone on the team. Bobcat football is part of who he is, and when you combine that with a high level of talent and an incredible work ethic you get a season like the one Brad had. We always say that when you play for the team the individual accolades follow, and just like Caleb Schreibeis did in 2012 Brad proved that this year. He deserves all the awards and honors and good things that come his way.”
Daly is the sixth Big Sky player since 2003 to win the Buchanan. Current Minnesota Viking Jared Allen claimed the Buchanan in 2003. He was followed by Montana’s Kroy Biermann (Atlanta Falcons) in 2007, Eastern Washington’s Greg Peach (Winnipeg Blue Bombers) in 2008, Eastern Washington’s J.C. Sherritt (Edmonton Eskimos) in 2010, and Schreibeis last year.
Daly came to Montana State in 2009 and record 10 tackles and two sacks as a true freshman. He did not play or attend school in 2010, but returned to the Bobcats in 2011. He led the Big Sky with 12.5 sacks and had seven quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles en route to earning Second Team All-Conference honors.
Daly once again earned Second Team All-Conference honors in 2012. Despite a nagging injury, he tallied 5.5 sacks and started in 12 of 13 games.
“I’m really happy for Brad, and really happy for our program,’’ said Montana State defensive line coach Bo Beck. To produce two Buck Buchanan winners in a row is huge. We talked about it one time before the season, and said that no matter who wins an award like that, it’s a team accomplishment; it takes everyone in the program and everyone on the defense, and especially every defensive lineman. I know the rest of the guys are extremely proud of Brad, just like Brad and everyone else was extremely proud of Caleb (Schreibeis) last year.’’
Montana linebacker Jordan Tripp finished 10th in voting. He received two first-place votes and 70 total points. Eastern Washington’s Ronnie Hamlin was 12
th with three first-place votes and 66 total points. Northern Colorado’s Clarence Bumpas tied for 19
th with 11 total points.
|
2013 Buck Buchanan Award Voting |
|
Name |
School |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
5th |
Total |
|
1. Brad Daly |
Montana State |
64 |
26 |
16 |
4 |
5 |
485 |
|
2. Stephon Robertson |
James Madison |
43 |
28 |
21 |
13 |
5 |
421 |
|
3. Justin Shade |
Samford |
4 |
23 |
20 |
14 |
13 |
213 |
|
4. Joe Thomas |
South Carolina St. |
6 |
6 |
14 |
12 |
19 |
139 |
|
5. Shaquille Riddick |
Gardner-Webb |
3 |
12 |
13 |
7 |
8 |
124 |
|
6. Terrence Fede |
Marist |
2 |
12 |
4 |
11 |
13 |
105 |
|
7. Quinn Backus |
Coastal Carolina |
2 |
6 |
6 |
11 |
13 |
87 |
|
8. Lynden Trail |
Norfolk State |
3 |
8 |
3 |
12 |
6 |
86 |
|
9. Tyler Starr |
South Dakota |
4 |
5 |
8 |
6 |
6 |
82 |
|
10. Jordan Tripp |
Montana |
2 |
6 |
7 |
5 |
5 |
70 |
|
11. Marcus Williams |
N. Dakota St. |
4 |
4 |
6 |
5 |
5 |
69 |
|
12. Ronnie Hamlin |
Eastern Washington |
3 |
3 |
7 |
8 |
2 |
66 |
|
13. Davis Tull |
UT-Chattanooga |
2 |
4 |
4 |
9 |
7 |
63 |
|
14. Jerome Couplin III |
Wm. & Mary |
2 |
2 |
4 |
11 |
9 |
61 |
|
15. Caleb Schaffitzel |
Missouri St. |
1 |
0 |
5 |
9 |
16 |
54 |
|
16. Zach Hodges |
Harvard |
2 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
6 |
31 |
|
17. Robert Simpson |
Miss. Valley St. |
0 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
15 |
|
18. Caraun Reid |
Princeton |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
12 |
|
T19. Clarence Bumpas |
No. Colorado |
0 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
11 |
|
T19. Colton Underwood |
Illinois St. |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
11 |