CEDAR CITY, Utah — Southern Utah Football made national noise this Tuesday, as two Thunderbirds were named finalists for the most prestigious awards in the Football Championship Subdivision. Running back Joshua Dye was selected as a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, while defensive standout Lando Brown earned a finalist spot for the Buck Buchanan Award, making Southern Utah one of only two United Athletic Conference programs, along with Tarleton State, to have a finalist on both lists.
Head Coach DeLane Fitzgerald Said
"We're incredibly proud of both Josh and Lando for earning recognition among the best players in the country. Their work ethic, toughness, and competitive drive set the tone for our entire program. Josh has been key for our offense all year, and Lando has been a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks. These two represent everything we want Southern Utah Football to be, and their success is a reflection of the commitment our whole team brings every day."
Dye has been the engine of the Southern Utah offense throughout the 2025 campaign, putting together one of the most dominant rushing seasons in the history of the program and the FCS. The junior exploded for a Division I-leading 1,831 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns, averaging more than six yards per attempt and delivering in every high-leverage moment. He finished the regular season as the FCS statistical champion in rushing yards per game, rushing touchdowns, total points scored, points per game, and total rushing attempts, while also ranking top-15 nationally in yards per carry. A four-time UAC Offensive Player of the Week, Dye's blend of power, speed, and elite vision has made him one of the most feared backs in college football and a deserving Walter Payton Award finalist.
On the defensive side, redshirt senior edge rusher Lando Brown established himself as one of the nation's premier disruptors. In only 11 games, Brown recorded 55 total tackles, a staggering 18 tackles for loss, and 14 sacks, leading the team in all three categories and ranking among the top defenders nationwide. His 1.27 sacks per game pace leads the entire FCS, while his 11 quarterback hurries highlight the constant pressure he applied to opposing offenses. Brown's dominance earned him a spot on the Walter Camp FCS Player of the Year Watchlist earlier this week, and now a well-deserved place among the Buck Buchanan Award finalists.
Together, Dye and Brown represent the balanced excellence that has propelled Southern Utah to six straight wins to finish the season and positioned the Thunderbirds as one of the UAC's most complete programs. Their recognition on the Walter Payton and Buck Buchanan finalist lists underscores not only their individual accomplishments, but also the rising profile of Southern Utah Football on the national stage.
Next Up
Southern Utah heads into the offseason with coach Fitzgerald and his staff looking to sign a new class of T-Birds in the next month. Stay tuned for that announcement coming soon.
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