William & Mary sophomore linebacker John Pius is among the top three in the voting for the 2022 Stats Perform Buck Buchanan Award, which honors the top defensive player in FCS football.

Pius has received an invitation to attend the FCS National Awards banquet on January 7 in Frisco, Texas, where the Buchanan Award winner will be announced. Joining him in the top three are Illinois State linebacker Zeke Vandenburgh and Central Arkansas defensive lineman David Walker after the vote of a 54-member panel.

Pius was honored as the CAA Defensive Player of the Year after a dominant season. The sophomore was one of the top pass rushers in FCS in 2022, ranking fourth nationally with 11.5 sacks and fifth with 19.0 tackles for loss. 

He also led William & Mary with 71 total tackles and contributed 12 quarterback hurries and three pass breakups. Pius recorded at least one TFL in 10 of his 12 contests and registered a sack in seven games, including a career-high 3.5 sacks at Lafayette. He was part of a Tribe defense that ranks 8^th nationally in scoring defense (19.8 ppg) and 7^th in forced turnovers (24).

Elon linebacker/safety Marcus Hillman finished fourth in the Buchanan Award voting, Delaware linebacker Johnny Buchanan was 11^th and Richmond linebacker Tristan Wheeler was 19^th.