Chattanooga, TN-Portland State linebacker Andy Schantz finished tenth in the balloting for the Buck Buchanan Award for the National Defensive Player of the Year at the NCAA I FCS level. Greg Peach, a defensive end from Eastern Washington, won the Buchanan Award in a ceremony held on Thursday night on the eve of the national championship game between Montana and Richmond.

Schantz earned 43 points to place 10th among 21 players from around the country that received votes. He had two first-place votes, four third-place votes, six fourth place votes and nine fifth-place votes among 102 media voters.

Peach had 39 first place votes and a total of 313 points.

Among players from the Big Sky Conference, Schantz was second in the balloting. Colt Anderson of Montana placed 13th overall, third among Big Sky players. KJ Gerard of Northern Arizona was 14th, fourth among Big Sky players.

Schantz is just the second Viking to be up for the Buck Buchanan Award. Adam Hayward, now a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, placed fourth in the Buchanan Award balloting in 2006.

Earlier this week, Schantz was named third team Associated Press All-American. He was one of the just seven Big Sky players to earn AP All-American, and the only linebacker selected.

A 6-1, 235-pound senior, Schantz led the Vikings with 115 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, nine pass breakups, and had an interception, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble this season. He was the Vikings' team defensive captain and Most Valuable Player, as well as second team All-Big Sky Conference.
A native of Santa Clarita, CA, Schantz will participate in the third annual Texas vs. The Nation All-Star Challenge game on Jan. 31 in El Paso, Texas.