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Former Monacan football star Snyder one of three finalists for FCS Defensive Player of the Year
Former Monacan Chiefs football standout Stone Snyder, No.5, was named one of three finalists for the FCS Football Buck Buchanan Award, given annually to the league’s top defensive player. (Photo: Randall Wolf; Courtesy: Wade Branner)

Former Monacan football star Snyder one of three finalists for FCS Defensive Player of the Year

CHESTERFIELD, Va. (BVM) — Monacan High School football fans know that former Chiefs player Stone Snyder can flat out play on the gridiron. As a two-way athlete for Monacan, Snyder earned first-team All-Metro and All-State Class 4 honors, splitting time between free safety and linebacker while also being named first-team all-region honoree as an offensive utility player during his senior year. During that campaign, Snyder made 25 solo tackles with 12 assists and also played quarterback, passing for 2,364 yards and 35 touchdowns while rushing for 1,356 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also served as the team’s punter for good measure.

That ability to dominate the game of football, regardless of position, has carried over with Snyder in his collegiate career with the Virginia Military Institute. On Thursday, he was recognized nationally for his play with the Keydets this season.

FCS Football announced that Snyder was named one of three finalists for the 2020-21 Buck Buchanan Award, given annually to the best defensive player in FCS football. Snyder is joined by Presbyterian linebacker Colby Campell and Southern defensive end Jordan Lewis. The three were among 18 finalists named earlier this month.

Snyder was a standout for a Keydets team that won the Southern Conference for the first time in over 40 years and made it to the FCS playoffs for the first time in program history. The sophomore linebacker would lead the SoCon in tackles per game with 10.9 after registering 76 over seven games including a season-high 21 in the regular season finale against The Citadel. Snyder would also have 9.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks and four QB hurries on the season and would finish the campaign off with 12 tackles in the Keydets playoff loss to James Madison University on April 24.

For his efforts this season, Snyder earned the SoCon Defensive Player of the Year from both the conference coaches and the media.

The winner of the Buck Buchanan Award will be announced on an FCS National Awards show to air on Bally Sports Regional Networks on Saturday, May 15. Past recipients of the award include Dexter Coakley, Rashean Mathis, Jared Allen, Arthur Moats and Kyle Emanuel.

Given all of his success and ability every time he gets on the field, Snyder is more than deserving of the honor and with all that he helped the Keydets achieve this past season he certainly has a strong case. Whether he wins the award or not, now even football fans outside of Virginia can clearly see that Snyder can flat out play football.