Consensus Draft Services Tabs Murray State's Lane FCS Preseason Defensive Player of the Year

Consensus Draft Services Tabs Murray State's Lane FCS Preseason Defensive Player of the Year

National attention continues to be bestowed upon Murray State defensive end Austen Lane as the senior-to-be was named the 2009  Football Championship Subdivision Preseason Defensive Player of the Year by the Consensus Draft Services.

Lane is listed as the 15th-best defensive end for next year’s NFL draft and is the only FCS player on the list. 

Lane is receiving attention after putting together an All-American season as a junior in 2008 in which he set a school-record with 12 sacks and ranked second in the FCS with 22 tackles-for-loss.  He was named to the Sporting News Fabulous 50 All-American team, as well as a third-team All-America by the Associated Press.

He finished his junior campaign with 63 tackles, 31 solo, 22 tackles for loss (140 yards), 12 sacks (108 yards), five quarterback hurries, two pass breakups, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and one blocked kick.

Lane made his presence known against Illinois State (Sept. 13) when he forced a pair of fumbles on a pair of sacks, one of which was recovered in the end zone for a touchdown.  His best effort came against SEMO (Nov. 8) when he tied the school record with 3.5 sacks, including one on the final play of the game to secure the victory.

He enters his final season ranked second on the career sack (18.0) list and fourth in tackles-for-loss (34.0).