Costigan named finalist for Buck Buchanan Award

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Bryant University football senior linebacker Thomas Costigan (Stamford, Conn.) has been named a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, given annually to the nation's top defensive player.

Costigan, the reigning Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Year, is one of 25 finalists. Named to the watch list prior to the start of the season, Costigan followed up a magical junior season with an outstanding senior campaign. He posted a single-season program record 109 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 14 tackles for a loss, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and an interception.

Bryant's starting linebacker each of the final 33 games of his career, Costigan posted seven or more tackles in all 11 games this season. He tied his career-high with 16 stops against Robert Morris and registered a season-high two sacks against Duquesne. Costigan registered at least 0.5 TFLs in all but two games in 2018.

Costigan played in all 44 games during his career with the Black and Gold, finishing with a program-record 285 tackles. He also finished second all-time in sacks (26.0) and third in TFLs (46.5). Costigan leads all active FCS players with 13-career forced fumbles and intercepted one pass in each of his final three seasons.