• Sports Network Release | Complete Team
Southeast Missouri State senior linebacker Blake Peiffer was one of 20 players named to the Preseason Buck Buchanan Award Watch List which was released by the Sports Network on Thursday.
The award is given to the top defensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).
Peiffer, who was named a Preseason All-American by the Sports Network last week, earned four different All-America honors in 2011. He led the OVC and set a new Southeast single-season record with 151 tackles. Peiffer ranked third in the nation with 13.7 tackles/game and registered double-digit tackles in 10 of his starts. He notched a career-high 19 tackles against Jacksonville State, marking one of six performances with 15 or more stops. In addition, he led the team with 7.5 tackles for loss and finished second with two forced fumbles.
The Buchanan Award Watch List can undergo revision during the 2012 season. Ballots will be sent to a panel of about 175 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries following the regular season on Nov. 19. The top three vote-getters will be invited to The Sports Network FCS Awards Presentation.
No OVC player has won the Buchanan Award since the honor was first handed out in 1995.
The Sports Network also presents the Walter Payton, Jerry Rice and Eddie Robinson awards. The Payton Award honors the FCS player of the year, the Rice Award goes to the FCS freshman of the year and the Robinson Award honors the FCS coach of the year.
2012 Buck Buchanan Award Watch List
Malcolm Bronson (S), McNeese State
Clarence Bumpas (LB), Northern Colorado
Wes Dothard (LB), Chattanooga
Matt Evans (LB), New Hampshire
Willie Jefferson (DE), Stephen F. Austin
Jeremy Kimbrough (LB), Appalachian State
Joseph Lebeau (DE), Jackson State
Demetrius McCray (CB), Appalachian State
Zach Minter (DT), Montana State
Ben Obaseki (DE), Indiana State
Blake Oliaro (DE), San Diego
Blake Peiffer (LB), Southeast Missouri
Keith Pough (LB), Howard
Kejuan Riley (S), Alabama State
Derek Rose (LB), Northwestern State
Brent Russell (DT), Georgia Southern
Tyler Starr (LB), South Dakota
Darnell Taylor (S), Sam Houston State
B.W. Webb (CB), William & Mary
Marcus Williams (CB), North Dakota State