PHILADELPHIA – Named a First Team All-Ivy League selection earlier in the day, senior defensive end Jake Heimlicher was tabbed one of 30 finalists for the Stats Perform Buck Buchanan Award, presented to the FCS National Defensive Player of the Year.
 
Heimlicher is Penn's first finalist for the award since Nick Miller was recognized back in 2018. He joins head coach Ray Priore in contention for national accolades after Priore was named a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award on Monday, presented to the National Coach of the Year in FCS football.
 
The senior put together one of the most memorable seasons by a defensive player in recent memory at Penn, dominating opposing quarterbacks all season long. Heimlicher recorded an Ivy League-leading nine sacks, the most by a Quaker since Mike Germino had 9.5 in 1999. He was ranked 10th in FCS in that category.
 
The two-time team captain was a crucial part of a defensive line that allowed the fewest rushing yards per game (89.4) in the Ivy League and the second fewest in the nation behind just #1 South Dakota State.
 
Heimlicher closes his Penn career with 17.5 sacks, the sixth-most in program history.
 
A national media panel will select the Buchanan Award winner, with voting based on the regular season. The recipient – along with the other three major awards – will be announced at the FCS National Awards banquet on Jan. 7 in Frisco, Texas, on the eve of the national championship game.