COLUMBIA, S.C. – Benedict College senior defensive lineman Israel Nwokocha has been named a finalist for the HBCU Go Defensive Player of the Year.
 
Nwokocha was named first-team All-SIAC at defensive line after a stellar season that saw him rank first in the SIAC and fourth in NCAA Division II in tackles for loss with 2.50 per game. He also ranked first in the SIAC and 11^th nationally in sacks, averaging 1.25 per game. He finished the season with 77 total tackles (40 solo, 37 assisted), 30 tackles for loss for -119 yards, and 12 sacks for -83 yards.
 
Along with being named All-SIAC, Nwokocha was recently named an HBCU All-American by BoxToRow, and was named to the D2CCA Football All-Super Region Two first team.
 
He helped anchor a Tiger defense that led the nation in fumbles recovered, second in third-down conversion defense, fourth in defensive touchdowns, fifth in team sacks, sixth in team tackles for loss, and seventh in scoring defense.
 
The other four finalists are Ckelby Givens from Southern University, Thomas Johnson from North Carolina Central University, Michael Lunz II from South Carolina State University, and Kenyon Garner from Livingstone College.
 
The winner will be announced on December 10 at 6 p.m. on HBCU Go.