Sacramento State’s Darnell Sankey is FCS preseason All-American

Sacramento State linebacker Darnell Sankey has been named to the STATS Preseason Football Championship Subdivision All-America team. He is one of four linebackers on the first team.

The 6-foot-3, 250-pound senior is coming off a season in which he was a candidate for the Buck Buchanan Award, which recognizes the FCS’s top defensive player.

Although Sankey missed three games because of a knee injury, his 11 tackles per game led the team and he finished second in total tackles with 99. The San Jose native had seven games with at least 10 tackles, including a career high 21 against Montana State.

He also had eight tackles for loss, two sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception return for a 59-yard touchdown. Sankey also was used on offense in short-yardage situations and scored two rushing touchdowns.

He made All-Big Sky Conference second team and received the Hornets’ Ray Clemons Defensive MVP.

This story was originally published July 9, 2015 at 5:20 PM with the headline "Sacramento State’s Darnell Sankey is FCS preseason All-American."