Buck Buchanan Award Watch List grows by seven

(STATS) – Seven players who have been dominating in the first half of the college football season were nominated to the STATS FCS Buck Buchanan Award Watch List on Thursday.

The Buchanan Award, presented to the national defensive player of the year in the Division I subdivision, has sent past winners such as Dexter Coakley, Rashean Mathis, Jared Allen, Arthur Moats and Kyle Emanuel on to NFL careers.

The new nominees to the watch list:

B.J. Blunt, McNeese, LB, Sr., 6-1, 220, New Orleans

Statistics: 56 tackles (35 solo), 11.5 TFL, 7 sacks, 3 PBU, 4 QBH, 2 FR (6 games)

Cam Gill, Wagner, LB, 6-3, 230, Douglasville, Georgia

Statistics: 36 tackles (24 solo), 13.5 TFL, 8 sacks, 1 PBU, 7 QBH, 2 FF, 1 BK; 1 punt return TD (7 games)

Andrew Gray, South Dakota, S, R-Sr., 6-2, 215, New Lenox, Illinois

Statistics: 51 tackles (26 solo), 1 TFL, 2 INTs, 3 PBU, 2 FF (6 games)

Jimmy Moreland, James Madison, CB, R-Sr., 5-11, 175, Royal Palm Beach, Florida

Statistics: 25 tackles (12 solo), 3 TFL, 1 Sack, 4 INTs (3 TD returns), 1 QBH, 1 FF, 1 BK (7 games)

Dante Olson, Montana, LB, R-Jr., 6-3, 237, Medford, Oregon

Statistics: 106 tackles (42 solo), 9.5 TFL, 5 sacks, 2 INTs, 3 PBU, 3 QBH, 3 FF (7 games)

Nasir Player, ETSU, DE, R-Jr., 6-5, 271, Columbia, South Carolina

Statistics: 28 tackles (13 solo), 9 TFL, 5 sacks, 1 PBU, 10 QBH, 2 FF (7 games)

Isiah Swann, Dartmouth, CB, Jr., 6-0, 190, Queen Creek, Arizona

Statistics: 18 tackles (15 solo), 5 INTs (1 TD return), 7 PBU (5 games)

Preseason nominees were defensive linemen Miles Brown of Wofford, Andrew Clyde of Richmond, Ahmad Gooden of Samford, Darin Greenfield of South Dakota, Darryl Johnson Jr. of North Carolina A&T, Greg Menard of North Dakota State, Khalen Saunders of Western Illinois, Chris Stewart of Sam Houston State, Chris Terrell of Central Arkansas and Jaison Williams of Austin Peay; linebackers Bryson Armstrong of Kennesaw State, Willie Barrett of Marist, Josh Buss of Montana, De’Arius Christmas of Grambling State, Thomas Costigan of Bryant, Warren Messer of Elon, Nick Miller of Penn, Christian Rozeboom of South Dakota State and Nick Wheeler of Colgate; and defensive backs Nasir Adderley of Delaware, Marlon Bridges of Jacksonville State, Robbie Grimsley of North Dakota State, Davanta Reynolds of North Carolina Central, Rashad Robinson of James Madison and Marvin Tillman of Western Carolina.

The Buchanan Award, presented since 1995, has watch list updates during the season. A national panel of over 150 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries will select the winner following the regular season.

Also this season, STATS will present the Walter Payton Award (FCS offensive player of the year), Jerry Rice Award (FCS freshman player of the year), Eddie Robinson Award (FCS coach of the year) and Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year.