WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (Nov. 23, 2015)—After posting outstanding seasons, William & Mary football standouts DeAndre Houston-Carson and Kendell Anderson have been selected as finalists for the national FCS defensive and offensive player of the year awards, respectively, by STATS.  
 
Houston-Carson is one of just two safeties among the 25 defensive finalists, while Anderson is one of just eight running backs among the 25 offensive finalists.
 
En route to helping the Tribe's defense rank 12th nationally in scoring defense, Houston-Carson has made a significant impact in multiple ways. In addition to leading the team with 83 tackles, he has totaled four interceptions, 4.5 TFL, a sack, seven PBU's, and a forced fumble. Highlighting his interceptions was a school-record 94-yard pick-six in the win at Villanova.
 
Honored as the Colonial Athletic Association Special Teams Player of the Week twice this season, he has recorded a pair of blocks.
 
A multiple-time all-conference selection at cornerback, Houston-Carson transitioned to free safety this season and has continued to excel leading a talented secondary. His impressive career stats include 270 tackles, 10 interceptions and nine blocks.
 
Despite logging a total of just 16 carries during the first two weeks this fall, Anderson emerged as W&M's primary ball carrier in the Week 3 win against Stony Brook and rattled off six consecutive 100-yard rushing efforts. Although he has resumed splitting the carries with former first-team All-CAA tailback Mikal Abdul-Saboor during the past few weeks, Anderson still ranks 10th nationally in rushing yards per game (110.7) and ninth in rushing touchdowns (13).
 
Anderson's 1,218 rushing yards this season ranks eighth on W&M's single-season list, while his 13 rushing touchdown's ranks tied for fourth.
 
A national panel of sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries select the winner of both awards, which is based on the regular season. The top three in votes will be invited to the announcement of the winner at the STATS FCS Awards Banquet and Presentation, scheduled for Jan. 8 in Frisco, Texas, on the eve of the FCS championship game.