• Buck Buchanan Award Watch List Release
Southeast Missouri sophomore linebacker
Bryce Norman is one of 21 players nationally added to the 2022 Buck Buchanan Award, which Stats Perform presents to the national defensive player of the year in college football’s Division I subdivision.
The 21 players join a group of 35 players who were on the preseason watch list announced in August. That list includes UT Martin graduate student linebacker
John H. Ford II, who leads the OVC in tackles (10.3/game).
More players can join the watch list during the regular season, and afterwards a national media panel will select the winner. First awarded in 1995, the Buchanan includes recipients such as Dexter Coakley, Rashean Mathis, Jared Allen and Arthur Moats. The OVC has had two players win the award: Jacksonville State's Darius Jackson (2017) and SEMO's Zach Hall (2018).
Norman has led a Southeast Missouri defense that has helped the Redhawks start the season 5-1. He leads the team with 52 tackles, which is 8.7 per game (third in the OVC). He also has 1.5 sacks, one interception, four pass breakups, four quarterback hurries, a fumble recovery and a defensive touchdown.
Also this season, Stats Perform 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 FedEx Ground Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Newcomers to the Buck Buchanan Watch List
DL - Thor Griffith, Harvard (Ivy)
DL - Muhindo Kapapa, San Diego (Pioneer)
DL - Jay Person, Chattanooga (Southern)
LB - Joe Andreessen, Bryant (Big South)
LB - Johnny Buchanan, Delaware (CAA)
LB - BJ Davis, South Carolina State (MEAC)
LB - Mike DeNucci, Lehigh (Patriot)
LB - Isaac Dowling, Mercer (Southern)
LB - Nyles Gaddy, Jackson State (SWAC)
LB - Bryce Norman, Southeast Missouri (Ohio Valley)
LB - Callahan O’Reilly, Montana State (Big Sky)
LB - John Pius, William & Mary (CAA)
LB - Chizi Umunakwe, Central Connecticut State (Northeast)
LB - Zeke Vandenburgh, Illinois State (MVFC)
LB - Antoine Williams, Austin Peay (ASUN)
LB - Kordell Williams, McNeese (Southland)
DB - Maxwell Anderson, Weber State (Big Sky)
DB - Myles Harden, South Dakota (MVFC)
DB - Myles Heard, Stephen F. Austin (WAC)
DB - Alijah Huzzie, ETSU (Southern)
DB - TaMuarion Wilson, Central Arkansas (ASUN)
DL's Nominated in Preseason: Brevin Allen, Campbell; Ty French, Gardner-Webb; Jeblonski Green, South Carolina State; Malik Hamm, Lafayette; Jonathan Hammond, Davidson; Titus Leo, Wagner; Jordan Lewis, Southern; Nate Lynn, William & Mary; Devonnsha Maxwell, Chattanooga; Clay Patterson, Yale; Kevin Peprah, Sacred Heart; Markel Perry, Sam Houston; Josiah Silver, New Hampshire; B.J. Thompson, Stephen F. Austin; Spencer Waege, North Dakota State
Linebackers
LB's Nominated in Preseason: Kelechi Anyalebechi, UIW; Adam Bock, South Dakota State; Spencer Cuvelier, Northern Iowa; Jacob Dobbs, Holy Cross;
John Ford II, UT Martin; Ryan Greenhagen, Fordham; David Hoage, Northern Colorado; Matthew Jackson, Eastern Kentucky; James Kaczor, North Dakota State; Isaiah Land, Florida A&M; Patrick O’Connell, Montana; Stone Snyder, VMI; Tristan Wheeler, Richmond
DB's Nominated in Preseason: Anthony Adams, Portland State; Montrae Braswell, Missouri State; Justin Ford, Montana; Robby Hauck, Montana; Ferlando Jordan, Southeastern Louisiana; Michael Tutsie, North Dakota State; Kedrick Whitehead, Delaware.