FARGO, N.D. - College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) today announced several 2014 honors for four-time FCS national champion North Dakota State. Defensive linemanwas named the 2014 CFPA National Defensive Performer of the Year, while punterwas named the 2014 CFPA Punter Award winner. The team, in addition, was honored for the top FCS performance in 2014.Emanuel finished the 2014 season with 97 tackles in sixteen games. He had 32.5 tackles for loss, 19.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and one interception.Emanuel, who was previously honored as first-team All-American, first-team All-MVFC, and the Sports Network's Buck Buchanan Award winner, helped North Dakota State finish third in the FCS in scoring defense (14.1 points allowed per game) and sixth in passing yards allowed (155.0 passing yards per game).LeCompte punted 59 times in 2014 with a 45.3 average. Twenty of his 59 punts (33.9%) went 50 or more yards, and 23 of his 59 punts (39.0%) landed inside the twenty yard-line. LeCompte's performance helped the Bison finish ninth in the FCS in net punting (38.37 net yards per punt).Emanuel and LeCompte are the third and fourth NDSU players to earn CFPA annual honors, following John Prelvitz (CFPA Punter Award) and Marcus Williams (CFPA Defensive Back Award).North Dakota State, honored as the CFPA's top team, recently concluded its 2014 season as the unanimous No. 1 pick in the Sports Network Top 25 and the FCS Coaches Poll. NDSU defeated MVFC foe Illinois State 29-27 in the FCS championship game. The Bison finished with an overall record of 15-1, including a 20-point win over FBS opponent Iowa State.The CFPA is in its seventh year of player and team performance recognition. Twenty-eight individual CFPA winners have been first-round NFL Draft selections.