Buchanan Award Watch Website
Eastern Kentucky senior cornerback Jeremy Caldwell is one of 20 candidates named to the 2011 Buck Buchanan Award Preseason Watch List, released by The Sports Network on Monday. The award is sponsored by Fathead.com.
Caldwell is one of six senior defensive backs named to the list (five or which are cornerbacks).
The Buchanan Award is in its 17th season and will be presented to the FCS' outstanding defensive player at the national awards banquet Thursday night, Jan. 5 in Frisco, Texas.
The OVC has never had a player win the Buchanan Award.
Caldwell, who was also named to the preseason Buchanan Watch List last year, was a first-team All-OVC selection last year as a junior. Defensively he had 32 tackles, four pass breakups, a forced fumble and fumble recovery in 11 games. Caldwell picked off three passes during the year including returning one 80 yards for a touchdown against Louisville. He also scored a two touchdowns via kick returns and another touchdown on a punt return. As a kick returner he ranked second nationally and set a new EKU single-season record in kickoff return average (33.7 yards per return). As a sophomore in 2009 Caldwell ranked fourth nationally with seven interceptions.
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 Buck Buchanan award is named for Junious "Buck" Buchanan, the NAIA All-American and Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive lineman who played for Grambling State University from 1959 through 1962. As a freshman, Buchanan came to Grambling on an "if" scholarship, to receive financial help if he played well. After a season of playing both varsity basketball and football, Buchanan decided to concentrate solely on football. By the time he finished four years at Grambling, his coach, Eddie Robinson, asserted that Buchanan was "... the finest tackle I have ever seen."
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.
2011 Preseason Buchanan Award Watch List
Kadarron Anderson (LB), Furman
Ben Boothby (DL), Northern Iowa
Jeremy Caldwell (CB), Eastern Kentucky
Moses Ellis (CB), Prairie View A&M
Matt Evans (LB), New Hampshire
Tyler Holmes (LB), Massachusetts
Asa Jackson (CB), Cal Poly
Matt Johnson (SS), 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 (NT), Georgia Southern
Ryan Steed (CB), Furman
A.J. Storms (LB), Idaho State
Renard Williams (DT), Eastern Washington