WASHINGTON (November 27, 2024) – Stats Perform and Urban Edge Network uncovered its 10 finalists for the inaugural HBCU+ National Player of the Year Award where Howard University graduate defensive back Kenny Gallop Jr. (Portsmouth, Va.) was nominated for the prestigious honor. The announcement came Wednesday morning.
 
All positions are eligible for the award and presented to the outstanding player from 21 Historically Black Colleges and Universities in FCS college football.
 
Recently, Gallop was selected to the All-MEAC First Team after ending his final season with 77 total tackles (52 solos), seven tackles for loss, four pass breakups, three sacks, three QB hurries, a forced fumble and fumble recovery.
 
Tuesday (Nov. 26), the reigning MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) Defensive Player of the Year was named a finalist for the 2024 Buck Buchanan Award, which is given to the national defensive player of the year in Division I FCS college football.
 
The recipient, to be selected by an eight-voter panel involved in HBCU FCS coverage, will be announced Monday (Dec. 9) and invited to the Stats Perform FCS National Awards Banquet Saturday (Jan. 4) in Frisco, Texas.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com and/or the STATS Perform website at www.statsperform.com.