Russell Named Finalist for Buchanan Award
11/23/2010 4:53:00 AM | Football
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Finalists for the Football Championship Subdivision's top player honors were announced Monday and Georgia Southern redshirt sophomore Brent Russell (Comer, Ga.) was among the 20 finalists for the Buck Buchanan Award. The Buchanan Award annually recognizes the outstanding defensive player in the FCS. Ballots for the Buchanan Award and the Payton Award, bestowed on the outstanding offensive player in the FCS, were issued to a panel of nearly 175 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries.
The top individual awards, as well as the Eddie Robinson Award, which honors the FCS coach of the year, will be announced at the national awards banquet on Thursday, Jan. 6 in Frisco, Texas - the night before the national championship game. All three awards are sponsored by Fathead.com.
Western Illinois senior linebacker Kyle Glazier and San Diego junior defensive end Mario Kurn joined the Buchanan Award Watch List as finalists alongside defensive tackles Kenrick Ellis of Hampton and Martin Parker of Richmond; nose tackle Brent Russell of Georgia Southern; defensive ends Jabari Fletcher of Appalachian State and Ameet Pall of Wofford; linebackers Matt Evans of New Hampshire, Tyler Holmes of Massachusetts, Eric McBride of Richmond, J.C.
Sherritt of Eastern Washington (last year's runner-up for the award), Bryce Smith of Samford, D.J. Smith of Appalachian State, Antoine Wilkinson of Missouri State and Jabara Williams of Stephen F. Austin; cornerbacks Korey Lindsey of Southern Illinois and Trumaine Johnson of Montana; and safeties Mark LeGree of Appalachian State, Eugene Clifford of Tennessee State and James Vercammen of Dayton.
Other nominees this season were defensive ends Christian Anthony of Grambling State, Christian Clark of Sacramento State and Malcolm Taylor of Alcorn State; linebacker Terence Thomas of Villanova; cornerbacks Jeremy Caldwell of Eastern Kentucky and Justin Rogers of Richmond; and safeties Jason House of Southern University and Mike McElroy of Southern Illinois.
Voting will reflect only the regular season. The FCS playoffs begin Saturday, Nov. 27.
