CLEVELAND – The Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association (FCS ADA) has selected the association's 18th annual Scholar-Athletes of the Year.

Chandler Burks, quarterback from Kennesaw State University, and South Dakota State University quarterback Taryn Christion were selected out of a field of seven finalists and 47 FCS ADA Academic All-Star Team honorees to receive a $5,000 postgraduate scholarship.

"It's been my pleasure to serve on the selection committee to choose the annual FCS ADA Postgraduate Scholarship recipients for the past three years," stated FCS ADA President Bill Smith, director of athletics at Bryant University. "The committee is so impressed by the incredible young men playing FCS football and excelling not only on the field but in the classroom. The selection process is made so difficult because of the incredible accomplishments by all the nominees. I would like to congratulate both Chandler and Taryn for being chosen as the best of the best and earning this year's postgraduate scholarship."

A sports management major who carries a 3.9 GPA, Burks started all 13 games at quarterback and helped KSU close 2018 with an 11-2 record, and an appearance in the FCS Playoffs. The only player in Big South Conference history to be named Offensive Player of the Year and Scholar-Athlete of the Year in the same year, the Douglasville, Georgia native is also a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District Team selection. As a graduate, Burks was vital to the Owls success in 2018 as he led both FCS and FBS in rushing touchdowns with 29 and was the FCS's most prolific scorer, averaging 13.4 points per outing. Individually, Burks rushed for 905 total yards (44^th in FCS) and averaged 69.6 yards per contest in 2018. His efforts on the ground helped elevate the Owls to second in the FCS in total rushing yards (4,588) and yards per game with 352.9. A two-time finalist for the prestigious Walter Peyton Award, Burks departs the KSU program as the statistical leader in 31 offensive categories. He hopes to continue his career at Kennesaw as a graduate assistant for the Owls for the upcoming 2019 campaign.

"First and foremost I want to praise God for I am nothing without him," stated Burks. "I am beyond humbled and grateful for being named a recipient of the FCS ADA Postgraduate Scholarship. My future plans are to obtain my Masters of Business Administration to further my career in the future. I am extremely excited for the near future and this scholarship enables me to accomplish another dream of mine." 

Christion maintained a 3.6 GPA, while majoring in business economics. As a senior, the Sioux Falls, South Dakota native, started all 13 games. He's been a stalwart for the Jackrabbits starting every game the last three seasons, helping guide SDSU to a 30-10 record and three consecutive FCS Playoff berths in that time. A three-time Walter Payton Award Finalist, Christion finished in the top ten in the FCS in passing touchdowns (32; 3^rd) and passing efficiency (158.9; 6^th). He also finished 11^th in the FCS in passing yards, tallying 3,020 yards through 13 contests. In 2018, Christion helped the Jackrabbits climb into the top five in the FCS in scoring offense with 42.5 ppg and team passing efficiency with a rating of 164.96 (4^th), while the Jackrabbits passing offense ranked 13^th (285.9 ypg). Coincidentally, it was SDSU and Christion that eliminated Burks and the Owls from the 2018 FCS Playoffs; a 27-17 contest at Kennesaw. Off the gridiron, Christion helped organize a local youth flag football league in partnership with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and helped coordinate SDSU's Be The Match bone marrow registry drive the last two years. His postgraduate plans are still undecided, but he is training for his NFL Pro Day, with aspirations of fulfilling his dream of playing professionally.

"It is a great honor to be selected for this award out of so many great student-athletes around the country," stated Christion. "This scholarship will help me keep building upon my education and help me be even more prepared for life after football. I am very grateful for this because without it, I do not know if I would have the opportunity to attend graduate school. I am very proud to receive this award and am honored to have been chosen."

Burks and Christion will be formally recognized during the FCS ADA's annual Awards Luncheon, held in conjunction with the NACDA Convention, June 10-12, at the World Center Marriott Resort in Orlando, Florida.

CLICK HERE for more information about the FCS ADA Academic All-Star Team and its nominating criteria.

A special Review Committee of FCS athletics directors was responsible for selecting the 2018 All-Star Team, the FCS ADA Postgraduate Scholarship finalists and ultimately the two scholar-athletes of the year. This year's Review Committee consisted of: Bill Smith, Bryant University (Chair); Nathan Pine, College of the Holy Cross; Kent Haslam, University of Montana; Ashley Robinson, Jackson State University; and Thorr Bjorn, University of Rhode Island.

About the FCS ADA: Now in its 25th year, the Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association's mission is to enhance Football Championship Subdivision football. For more information on the FCS ADA, please visit www.fcsada.com. The FCS ADA is administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), which is in its 54th year. For more information on NACDA and the 17 professional associations that fall under its umbrella, please visit www.nacda.com.