Montana cornerback Trumaine Johnson is one of five Big Sky players on the initial Buck Buchanan Award Watch List.
Five Sky Players on Buchanan List
Five Big Sky Conference players have been named to the initial Buck Buchanan Award Watch List, The Sports Network announced on Monday.
Defensive tackle Renard Williams and safety Matt Johnson of defending national champion Eastern Washington are on the initial list of 20 players, as are Montana cornerback Trumaine Johnson, Idaho State linebacker A.J. Storms and Sacramento State defensive end Zack Nash.
The Buchanan, sponsored by Fathead, is awarded to the top defensive player in the Championship Football Subdivision. J.C. Sherritt, a linebacker from Eastern Washington now playing in the Canadian Football League for the Edmonton Eskimos, won the honor in 2010.
Big Sky players have won three of the last four Buchanan Awards, and four since 2003. Eastern Washington’s Greg Peach won the honor in 2008, while Montana’s Kroy Biermann captured it in 2007. Idaho State’s Jared Allen was the first Big Sky player to garner the Buchanan in 2003.
Williams, a 6-foot-2, 300-pound senior from Port Orchard, Wash., has been named First Team All-Conference each of the past two seasons. He recorded 6.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss and forced four fumbles as a junior.
Matt Johnson, a 6-2, 220-pound senior from Tumwater, Wash., garnered All-America honors from The Sports Network in 2010. He tied for the Big Sky lead with five interceptions, and recorded 105 total tackles.
Trumaine Johnson, a 6-3, 203-pounder from Stockton, Calif., was a consensus All-American in 2010, finishing 20th in Buchanan voting. He had four interceptions and broke up 11 passes.
Storms, a 6-foot, 215-pounder from Meridian, Idaho, led the nation with an average of 13.3 tackles per game in 2010. He was a Second Team All-America selection by The Sports Network.
Nash, a 6-3, 265-pounder from Vacaville, Calif, led the Big Sky with 13 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss last season. He also forced a league-high six fumbles. He was named to the Sports Network’s All-America Second Team.
The Buchanan Award Watch List will undergo revision during the 2011 season. Ballots will be sent to a panel of about 200 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries after the regular season on Nov. 21.
The Sports Network also presents the Walter Payton, Jerry Rice and Eddie Robinson awards which are sponsored by Fathead.com. The Payton Award (FCS outstanding player) and Robinson Award (FCS coach of the year) are celebrating their 25th anniversaries, while the Rice Award (FCS freshman of the year) is in its inaugural season.
Montana State quarterback DeNarius McGhee, Eastern Washington quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell and Eagle receiver Brandon Kaufman are on the initial Walter Payton Award Watch List, which was released last week.
Buck Buchanan Award Watch List
Kadarron Anderson, LB, Furman
Ben Boothby, DT, Northern Iowa
Jeremy Caldwell, CB, Eastern Kentucky
Moses Ellis, CB, Prairie View A&M
Matt Evans, LB, New Hampshire
Tyler Holmes, LB UMass
Asa Jackson, CB, Cal Poly
Matt Johnson, S, Eastern Washington
Trumaine Johnson, CB, Montana
Mario Kurn, DE, San Diego
Brian McNally, DE, New Hampshire
Zack Nash, DE, Sacramento State
Ben Obaseki, DE Indiana State
Ameet Pall, DE, Wofford
Keith Pough, LB, Howard
Derek Rose, LB, Northwestern State
Brent Russell, DT, Georgia Southern
Ryan Steed, CB, Furman
A.J. Storms, LB, Idaho State
Renard Williams, DT, Eastern Washington