Old Skool Cat
Active member
Thought I would pass this tidbit on. Can't wait for our match-up October 3rd! Should be a great game!
http://64.246.64.33/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfoot2/news/news.aspx?id=4241506
2009 Buchanan watch list candidates announced
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Christian Anthony of Grambling, Danny Batten of South Dakota State, Tommy Connors of Southeastern Louisiana and Dane Fletcher of Montana State were announced on Tuesday as the first four candidates on the 2009 Buck Buchanan Award watch list.
A total of 20 candidates will be announced in alphabetical order prior to the start of the season, with four candidates being released each week. The watch list will be revised in October and again in November before the final ballot is announced.
Voting from a panel of FCS sports information directors, writers, broadcasters and other football experts will be conducted after the regular season ends. Three finalists will be announced on Nov. 30 and will be invited to the 23rd annual Sports Network Awards banquet on Dec. 17 in Chattanooga, TN., the night before the NCAA Division I championship game. The Walter Payton Award and the Eddie Robinson Award will also be presented that night.
Here are biographies of the first four players named to the Buchanan watch list:
Christian Anthony, Grambling, Senior, 6-4, 246, Defensive End
Anthony developed into one of the top defensive players in the SWAC last season, piling up eight sacks, 17 tackles for loss and 55 total stops. He also posted eight quarterback hurries and four pass breakups, intercepted two passes and forced one fumble. Anthony has been a big-play performer throughout his career, with 112 tackles, 14 sacks and 31 tackles for loss. He has seven forced fumbles, 15 quarterback hurries and seven pass breakups in his career. Anthony led Grambling to a 41-9 victory over Jackson State in the SWAC championship game last season, winning defensive MVP honors with seven tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks for 13 yards of losses and two quarterback hurries. He also helped Grambling win a West Division title and advance to the SWAC championship game in 2007. Anthony was a first-team All- SWAC performer in 2008.
Danny Batten, South Dakota State, Senior, 6-4, 250, Defensive End
Batten is beginning his fourth year as a starter on the Jackrabbits defensive line. A solid, consistent performer who cracked the starting lineup as a true freshman, Batten had seven sacks, 14.5 tackles for loss and 75 total stops last season as South Dakota State made a run for a league championship and a playoff berth in its first season in the Missouri Valley Football Conference before finishing third. He added five quarterback hurries, one interception and one pass breakup. Batten was a first-team All-MVFC selection. He was a big part of a defense that helped SDSU to the Great West Conference title in 2007, with five sacks, 12 tackles for loss, 67 total stops, two quarterback hurries, one blocked kick, one forced fumble and one pass breakup. Batten has 188 tackles, 13 sacks and 36.5 tackles for loss in his career.
Tommy Connors, Southeastern Louisiana, Senior, 6-1, 205, Strong Safety
Connors has been the heart and soul of the Lions defense as he begins his fourth season in the starting lineup. After earning second-team All-Southland Conference honors during his first two years, Connors took his game to another level as a junior, with 108 tackles, four interceptions, 6.5 tackles for loss and four pass breakups. He also had two blocked kicks, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble as he picked up first-team all-conference honors. Connors could end up among the all-time tacklers at the FCS level as he enters his senior year with 250 total stops. He also has six career interceptions, 11 pass breakups and four forced fumbles in his career. Connors has saved his best for big games, including a season-high 15-tackle performance last season against Central Arkansas. He showed his promise as a freshman with 16 tackles against Stephen F. Austin.
Dane Fletcher, Montana State, Senior, 6-2, 242, Defensive End
Fletcher has made steady improvement on the Montana State defensive line to work his way to the top among pass rushers in the Big Sky Conference. Fletcher came on last season to record 6.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss to earn second-team all-conference honors. He also contributed 44 tackles, five pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two blocked kicks. In his first three years with the Bobcats, Fletcher has compiled 9.5 sacks, 109 tackles, 33.5 tackles for loss, 13 pass breakups, three blocked kicks and two forced fumbles. Fletcher had two sacks last season in a game against South Dakota and a career-high 11 tackles, including four tackles for loss as a sophomore against Northern Arizona in 2007.
http://64.246.64.33/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfoot2/news/news.aspx?id=4241506
2009 Buchanan watch list candidates announced
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Christian Anthony of Grambling, Danny Batten of South Dakota State, Tommy Connors of Southeastern Louisiana and Dane Fletcher of Montana State were announced on Tuesday as the first four candidates on the 2009 Buck Buchanan Award watch list.
A total of 20 candidates will be announced in alphabetical order prior to the start of the season, with four candidates being released each week. The watch list will be revised in October and again in November before the final ballot is announced.
Voting from a panel of FCS sports information directors, writers, broadcasters and other football experts will be conducted after the regular season ends. Three finalists will be announced on Nov. 30 and will be invited to the 23rd annual Sports Network Awards banquet on Dec. 17 in Chattanooga, TN., the night before the NCAA Division I championship game. The Walter Payton Award and the Eddie Robinson Award will also be presented that night.
Here are biographies of the first four players named to the Buchanan watch list:
Christian Anthony, Grambling, Senior, 6-4, 246, Defensive End
Anthony developed into one of the top defensive players in the SWAC last season, piling up eight sacks, 17 tackles for loss and 55 total stops. He also posted eight quarterback hurries and four pass breakups, intercepted two passes and forced one fumble. Anthony has been a big-play performer throughout his career, with 112 tackles, 14 sacks and 31 tackles for loss. He has seven forced fumbles, 15 quarterback hurries and seven pass breakups in his career. Anthony led Grambling to a 41-9 victory over Jackson State in the SWAC championship game last season, winning defensive MVP honors with seven tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks for 13 yards of losses and two quarterback hurries. He also helped Grambling win a West Division title and advance to the SWAC championship game in 2007. Anthony was a first-team All- SWAC performer in 2008.
Danny Batten, South Dakota State, Senior, 6-4, 250, Defensive End
Batten is beginning his fourth year as a starter on the Jackrabbits defensive line. A solid, consistent performer who cracked the starting lineup as a true freshman, Batten had seven sacks, 14.5 tackles for loss and 75 total stops last season as South Dakota State made a run for a league championship and a playoff berth in its first season in the Missouri Valley Football Conference before finishing third. He added five quarterback hurries, one interception and one pass breakup. Batten was a first-team All-MVFC selection. He was a big part of a defense that helped SDSU to the Great West Conference title in 2007, with five sacks, 12 tackles for loss, 67 total stops, two quarterback hurries, one blocked kick, one forced fumble and one pass breakup. Batten has 188 tackles, 13 sacks and 36.5 tackles for loss in his career.
Tommy Connors, Southeastern Louisiana, Senior, 6-1, 205, Strong Safety
Connors has been the heart and soul of the Lions defense as he begins his fourth season in the starting lineup. After earning second-team All-Southland Conference honors during his first two years, Connors took his game to another level as a junior, with 108 tackles, four interceptions, 6.5 tackles for loss and four pass breakups. He also had two blocked kicks, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble as he picked up first-team all-conference honors. Connors could end up among the all-time tacklers at the FCS level as he enters his senior year with 250 total stops. He also has six career interceptions, 11 pass breakups and four forced fumbles in his career. Connors has saved his best for big games, including a season-high 15-tackle performance last season against Central Arkansas. He showed his promise as a freshman with 16 tackles against Stephen F. Austin.
Dane Fletcher, Montana State, Senior, 6-2, 242, Defensive End
Fletcher has made steady improvement on the Montana State defensive line to work his way to the top among pass rushers in the Big Sky Conference. Fletcher came on last season to record 6.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss to earn second-team all-conference honors. He also contributed 44 tackles, five pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two blocked kicks. In his first three years with the Bobcats, Fletcher has compiled 9.5 sacks, 109 tackles, 33.5 tackles for loss, 13 pass breakups, three blocked kicks and two forced fumbles. Fletcher had two sacks last season in a game against South Dakota and a career-high 11 tackles, including four tackles for loss as a sophomore against Northern Arizona in 2007.
