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South Dakota State University Athletics
FRANCL, GRONOWSKI NAMED FCS AWARD FINALISTS
11/26/2024 12:01:00 PM | Football
CHICAGO — South Dakota State linebacker Caleb Francl has been named a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award and reigning Walter Payton Award winner Mark Gronowski is again in the running for the honor as the contenders for the top awards within the Division I Football Championship Subdivision were announced Tuesday.
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The awards will be presented at the Stats Perform FCS National Awards Banquet on Jan. 4 in Frisco, Texas. The winners of the awards for defensive player of the year (Buchanan) and offensive player of the year (Payton) will be selected by a national voting panel from a group of 35 finalists for each award.
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A senior from Grand Island, Nebraska, Francl has helped direct a South Dakota State unit that leads the FCS in scoring defense at 12.4 points per game and ranks fourth in total defense by allowing an average of 272.9 yards per game. Individually, he finished the regular season ranked second on the team with 64 tackles, including 7.0 tackles for loss and a sack. Francl, who registered at least seven tackles in a game in six of the Jackrabbits' 12 games, also broke up four passes.
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Gronowski earned the 2023 Walter Payton Award while leading the Jackrabbits to their second consecutive national title. The Naperville, Illinois, native has compiled a 47-5 career record and is a two-time Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Player of the Year (2020-21, 2023). During the 2024 regular season, Gronowski completed 173-of-280 passes (61.8 percent) for 2,190 yards with 17 touchdowns and 6 interceptions, while also rushing 73 times for 309 yards and 5 touchdowns.
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Earlier this fall, Gronowski was selected as one of 13 finalists for the FedEx Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award, which also will be presented at the Stats Perform FCS National Awards Banquet, along with the Eddie Robinson Award for FCS coach of the year, Jerry Rice Award for FCS freshman of the year and the Urban Edge Network HBCU+ Player of the Year.
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The awards will be presented at the Stats Perform FCS National Awards Banquet on Jan. 4 in Frisco, Texas. The winners of the awards for defensive player of the year (Buchanan) and offensive player of the year (Payton) will be selected by a national voting panel from a group of 35 finalists for each award.
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A senior from Grand Island, Nebraska, Francl has helped direct a South Dakota State unit that leads the FCS in scoring defense at 12.4 points per game and ranks fourth in total defense by allowing an average of 272.9 yards per game. Individually, he finished the regular season ranked second on the team with 64 tackles, including 7.0 tackles for loss and a sack. Francl, who registered at least seven tackles in a game in six of the Jackrabbits' 12 games, also broke up four passes.
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Gronowski earned the 2023 Walter Payton Award while leading the Jackrabbits to their second consecutive national title. The Naperville, Illinois, native has compiled a 47-5 career record and is a two-time Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Player of the Year (2020-21, 2023). During the 2024 regular season, Gronowski completed 173-of-280 passes (61.8 percent) for 2,190 yards with 17 touchdowns and 6 interceptions, while also rushing 73 times for 309 yards and 5 touchdowns.
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Earlier this fall, Gronowski was selected as one of 13 finalists for the FedEx Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award, which also will be presented at the Stats Perform FCS National Awards Banquet, along with the Eddie Robinson Award for FCS coach of the year, Jerry Rice Award for FCS freshman of the year and the Urban Edge Network HBCU+ Player of the Year.
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