ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Drake redshirt freshman defensive lineman Finn Claypool was named Pioneer Football League Freshman Defensive Player of the Year, the league announced Monday (Nov. 28).
 
Playing for his hometown team, Claypool enjoyed an impressive redshirt freshman campaign. He finished third among league tacklers in both tackles for loss (14.5) and sacks (8.0), ranking among the FCS' top 25 in each category. The Des Moines, Iowa native, recorded 12 solo tackles for loss, and all eight of his sacks were solo stops during the campaign.
 
Claypool led the way with 12.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks in league play while also averaging 4.63 tackles per game to rank among the league's top 50. He is the fourth Drake athlete to earn the league's freshman defensive award and the first since Mack Merrin won the 2014 honor.
 
The Drake football closed out the 2022 season on a three-game winning streak.