Zock Earns Invite To Nashville As Finalist For Buck Buchanan Award

MACON – Sophomore defensive end Andrew Zock has earned an invitation to the FCS National Awards Banquet in early January as one of three finalists for the Buck Buchanan Award, officials announced Tuesday morning. The award, which is celebrating its 31^st anniversary season, is presented to the national defensive player of the year in Division I FCS college football.

With the announcement, Zock becomes the second Mercer student-athlete in as many years to earn an invite to the annual awards ceremony. The finalists for the high honor also include Furman defensive end Joshua Stoneking and Fordham linebacker James Conway.

The recipient, selected after the regular season by a national voting panel, will be announced on January 3 in Nashville, Tenn.

Zock has totaled 41 tackles (23 solo), including a school record 20.0 tackles for loss (-109 yards), across 11 starts this season, while also turning in 22 quarterback hurries, three pass break-ups, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He has also logged a single season school record sack total (11.5). He has tallied multiple tackles for loss in seven outings, including a season-best 4-1/2 drops behind the line in Mercer's Week 3 win over Wofford.

The Citra, Fla., native has accumulated 34-1/2 tackles for loss (18-1/2 sacks) in two seasons and 25 games in the Orange & Black. He also boasts a school record 36 quarterback hurries.

Sixth-seeded Mercer (9-2, 8-0 SoCon) will begin its road in the NCAA postseason on Saturday when it suits up to take on 11th-seeded South Dakota (9-4) or Drake (8-3) in the second round of the NCAA FCS Playoffs. Kickoff has been scheduled for noon at Five Star Stadium.

Tickets for the game can be purchased by visiting MercerBears.com/Tickets.

Zock Earns Invite To Nashville As Finalist For Buck Buchanan Award

Players Mentioned

Andrew Zock

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