Idaho State redshirt senior linebacker Mario Jenkins finished 24th in the final voting for the Buck Buchanan Award, the FCS announced Tuesday. The award recognizes the top defensive player in the FCS. Jenkins was named one of 25 finalists Nov. 20.

Jenkins finished his final season with the Bengals with a team-leading 111 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Jenkins’ 10.1 tackles per game are tied for the Big Sky Conference lead and tied for 12th in the FCS with Montana’s James Banks.

Jenkins, who redshirted the 2013 season and missed the 2015 season with a knee injury, finished his ISU career with 324 tackles, 26.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks in three seasons. Jenkins led the Bengals in tackles each season he played.

As a redshirt freshman in 2014, Jenkins finished fourth in the voting for the Jerry Rice Award, which honors the top freshman in the FCS. The same year, he was named Big Sky Freshman of the Year. He was a second-team all-Big Sky pick in 2014 and 2016 and earned a first-team nod in 2017.

Jenkins is the first Idaho State player to record two 100-tackle seasons since Mitch Beckstead did so in 2013 and 2014.

James Madison’s Andrew Ankrah, Jacksonville State’s Darius Jackson and Western Illinois’ Brett Taylor are the top three vote-getters for the Buchanan Award. The winner will be announced Jan. 5, 2018 at the FCS STATS Awards Banquet in Frisco, Texas. Jenkins received one first-place vote, one second-place vote, one third-place vote and three fourth-place votes to finish with 18 points. Montana linebacker Josh Buss finished 21st in the voting with 25 points.