2009 Pete's Power Performers of the Year

We are proud to introduce Pete's 2009 Power Performer's of the year. These are the players, coaches, staff members, even contributors the best to FCS/I-AA in the season. Pete's looks at all of the conferences and teams covered, and decides which players (usually a senior) gave the most powerful performance. We look at statistics, team and conference performance and strength, and so much more. The same is done with the coach selected. As with the power poll, our selection process does not take any post-season activity into account. The lifetime/career achievement award is optional; given to the player, coach, staff member, or contributor that we fell has done the most for the game. If you have any suggestion, do not hesitate to let us know whom you feel may be a "Power Performer".


Offensive Performer-of-the-Year Deji Karim, Sr., RB, Southern Illinois Our offensive performer-of-the-year is SIU senior Running Back Deji Karim. Deji is the the 2009 Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Player of the Year, leading his Salukis to an 11-2 record, the MVFC Championship, a No. 1 national ranking for three weeks and the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs. His 1,694 rushing yards in 2009 led the FCS and was the third most in school history. No. 6 set a new SIU school record with 2,339 all-purpose yards in 2009... Finished his career with 26 rushing touchdowns in two seasons, which ties for the fifth most in school history ...Averaged 6.58 yards per carry in his career and 7.06 yards per attempt in 2009...Had 10 career 100-yard rushing games and nine in 12 games in 2009...Only fumbled once in 351 career touches at SIU...Redshirted in 2008 when he missed the entire season with a knee injury.
Karim’s Standings in National Statistics: Category National Rank Total Yards Avg./Game Total Rushing Yards 1st 1,694 130.3 Rushing Yards/Game 3rd 1,694 130.3 All-Purpose Yards/Game 3rd 2,339 179.9 Touchdowns Scored 2nd 20 TDs 1.5 Kickoff Return Average* 2nd 433 30.9 Scoring 9th 102 pts 9.23 Karim returned 14 kickoffs for 433 yards and one touchdown in 2009. Had two touchdown runs over 90 yards (93 and 92) and four over 70 yards. Karim is the only player in all of Division I (FBS and FCS) to have two 90-plus yard runs in a year in the past seven seasons (which is when the NCAA started tracking the longest runs from scrimmage). Reached 1,000 yards rushing in seventh game of season on 132nd carry, as he became the third fastest back in MVFC history to reach 1,000 yards. Half of his 18 touchdown runs were longer than 20 yards. u Had 24 plays (21 rush, three receiving) that went for over 20 yards. Had three kickoff returns of over 50 yards and one return for a TD. His 273 rushing yards against Illinois State, Oct. 10, were the most rushing yards gained in the FCS. It was the third most in school history and the sixth most ever in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Had five-straight 100-yard rushing games (Sept. 26-Oct. 17) and nine total 100-yard games in 2009, which is the second most in a year in school history. Had two, 200-yard rushing games (one of three FCS players to do so). Set new school record for highest rushing yards per carry (min. 10 attempts) against Southwest Baptist (Sept. 26) when he averaged 21.0 yards per rush (10 carries, 210 yards, three total TDs). Karim’s 9.8 yards per carry against Illinois State is the third highest for a Saluki back with at least 20 carries in a game. u Registered games with 310, 290, 282 and 218 all-purpose yards. One of only six Salukis, in school history, to rush for over 200 yards twice in a career.

Defensive Performer-of-the-Year Austen Lane, Sr., DE, Murray State Our defensive POY is Murray State DE Austen Lane. Lane was selected as the 2009 Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year after leading the league with 11 sacks and 19.5 tackles-for-loss. His performance did not go unnoticed on a national level as he was selected as an Associated Press First-Team All-American.
Lane started all 11 games at RDE and finished with career-high 65 tackles … Recorded 11 sacks, 20.5 tackles for loss and 19 QB pressures … Served as team captain … The 11 sacks were second-most in school history … First-team FCS All-America selection by The NFL Draft Report … Named OVC Defensive Player of the Year by The Gridiron Report … Ranked fourth in the nation with an average of 1.1 sacks per game and ranked third with 1.86 tackles for loss per game … Tied for fifth in nation with four forced fumbles … Scored TD on 21-yard INT return against Austin Peay along with two sacks. For his career, Lane started 40 of 43 games … Holds school record with 29 sacks and 55 tackles for loss … The 29 sacks were the 10th-most in FCS history … Set conference record with 0.674 sacks per game, the 10th-highest average in FCS history … Also ranked first in conference history with 1.279 tackles for loss per game … Totaled 211 tackles, 42 QB pressures, seven forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, five passes defended, one INT and four blocked kicks … Became first player in school history with 10-plus sacks and 20-plus tackles for loss in two different seasons

Special Teams Performer-of-the-Year Leroy Vann, Sr., RS, Florida A&M Our special teams "Power Performer" for 2009 is senior Return Specialist Leroy Vann of Florida A&M. Vann became just the fifth player in NCAA FCS history to reach at least 1,000 yards in both punt returns and kickoff returns. He also set the NCAA record with 11 combined returns for touchdowns. Vann surpassed FAMU’s 1988 All-American Howard Huckaby’s four touchdown punt returns with five in a single-season. Vann is a Two Time All-American that broke the FCS record for punt return touchdowns in a single season against the North Carolina A&T Aggies last season. Vann dynamic returns helped the Rattlers secure 8-3 season.
Vann's Standings in National Statistics: G Rush Rec PR KOR Yds Yds/Gm Pl Ydspl 11 67 0 569 818 1454 132.18 79 18.41 Vann returned 28 punts for 462 yards (16.5-yard average) and three touchdowns. He also returned 38 kickoffs for 1,121 yards (29.5-yard average) and three touchdowns. Overall, Vann had 11 career touchdown returns (eight punt-return TDs to set an FSC record, plus three more scores on kickoff returns).

Head Coach-of-the-Year Andy Talley, Villanova Coach of the Year honors went to Wildcat head coach Andy Talley. Talley led the Wildcats to a 14-1 record, the CAA Football title and the NCAA Division I Football National Championship in 2009. The NCAA title was the first in football for the school and the team’s 14 wins marked a record. Talley, the 2009 CAA Football Coach of the Year, The 25-year Villanova head coach helped resurrect the once dormant program in 1985 and now has a career record of 207-120-2 (.632) in 30 seasons as a head coach.

2009 Pete's Power Performers of the Year

Offensive Performer-of-the-Year

Defensive Performer-of-the-Year

Special Teams Performer-of-the-Year

Head Coach-of-the-Year