FRISCO, Texas — Missouri State senior Dylan Cole finished third in the balloting for the 22nd annual Buck Buchanan Award, which was announced Friday evening at the 2016 FCS Awards Banquet and Presentation. 

UNI's Karter Schult took home the highest individual honor for a defensive player in the FCS, while Sam Houston State's P.J. Hall finished second. A national panel of over 150 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries selected Schult from 25 finalists. He received 68 first-place votes and 473 points, while Hall had 15 first-place votes and 269 points and Cole collected 10 first-place votes and 168 points.

Cole, who was a unanimous first-team All-America selection this fall, completed his four-year Missouri State career as the nation's leading tackler with an average of 12.9 stops per game during the regular season. The Rogersville, Mo., product recorded at least 13 tackles in nine different games, including 19 in the Bears' win over Southern Illinois. The All-MVFC first-team selection racked up 85 solo tackles, eight tackles for loss, two interceptions, four pass breakups and three forced fumbles. 

Earlier Friday, Cole was named an FCS ADA Academic All-Star after the linebacker completed his bachelor's degree in sales management in December. He capped his career with 457 tackles in 46 games, finishing third on the Bears' career tackles chart and ninth all-time in Valley history.