MOSCOW, Idaho – Idaho edge rusher Keyshawn James-Newby has been named a Buck Buchanan Award Finalist, the FCS Defensive Player of the Year Award, by Stats Perform.
 
James-Newby, a senior from Helena, Montana, is without a doubt one of the best defensive players in the country. He leads the Big Sky Conference with 9.0 sacks and is fourth in the Big Sky with 13.0 tackles for loss. He had racked up 10 QB hurries and a pair of forced fumbles this season.
 
He accomplished all of this despite missing most of the Weber State game and the entire Idaho State game.
 
Newby is ranked as the ninth-ranked defensive end in all of college football by Pro Football Focus.
 
Newby shined when the lights were brightest. He racked up 2.0 sacks against Oregon and three against Wyoming. He also had a sack and four QB hurries against Abilene Christian.
 
He earned Big Sky Player of the Week honors after the Wyoming game.
 
James-Newby is one of 33 players named to the finalist list, along with two other Big Sky players.
 
The Vandals finished the regular season with a 9-3 record and earned the No. 8 seed and a first round by into the FCS Playoffs. Idaho will host the winner of the Richmond/Lehigh game at the P1FCU Kibbie Dome on Dec. 7 at 6 p.m. Season ticket holders have until Wednesday at 12 p.m. to secure their playoff tickets, the remaining tickets go on sale Wednesday to the general public.