CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard Football senior safety Ty Bartrum has been named a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, Stats Perform announced today. The award is presented annually to the national defensive player of the year in Division I FCS college football.
 
Bartrum is one of 30 players up for the award and comes one day after being named the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston's Bulger Lowe Award recipient (defensive player of the year).
 
In 10 games this season, Bartrum racked up 72 tackles, one interception, three pass breakups and one forced fumble, while leading one of the top defenses in the nation. Harvard finished the regular season ranked No. 7 in rushing defense, 10^th in total defense, and 13^th in scoring defense.
 
The award, in its 31st season, is named for legendary defensive lineman Junious "Buck" Buchanan, who starred at Grambling State as part of his Hall of Fame career. Past Buchanan recipients include Dexter Coakley, Rashean Mathis and Jared Allen. Central Arkansas' David Walker was last season's winner.
 
All 13 FCS conferences are represented by a finalist. The winner, to be selected by a national voting panel, will be announced at the Stats Perform FCS National Awards Show on Jan. 3 in Nashville, Tennessee.