NSU's Rose on watch list for Buchanan Award - KSLA News 12 Shreveport, Louisiana News Weather & Sports

NSU's Rose on watch list for Buchanan Award

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NATCHITOCHES, LA (KSLA) -

For the second straight season, Northwestern State's two-time All-America linebacker Derek Rose is among 20 elite defensive players in the Football Championship Subdivision included on the prestigious Buck Buchanan Award Watch List.

Rose is one of six finalists from last year's candidates who are contending for the 18th Annual Buchanan Award, presented by The Sports Network to the outstanding defensive performer in the FCS. Among the 2011 finalists is last year's winner, New Hampshire senior linebacker Matt Evans, bidding to become the second repeat Buchanan Award recipient.

The other 2011 finalists returning to the Watch List are Georgia Southern nose tackle Brent Russell, Indiana State defensive end Ben Obaseki, Howard outside linebacker Keith Pough, and Alabama State safety Kejuan Riley.

The newcomers to the Watch List are defensive tackle Zach Minter of Montana State; defensive ends Willie Jefferson of Stephen F. Austin, Joseph LeBeau of Jackson State and Blake Oliaro of San Diego; linebackers Clarence Bumpas of Northern Colorado, Wes Dothard of Chattanooga, Jeremy Kimbrough of Appalachian State, Blake Peiffer of Southeast Missouri State and Tyler Starr of South Dakota; cornerbacks Demetrius McCray of Appalachian State, B.W. Webb of William & Mary and Marcus Williams of FCS champion North Dakota State; and safeties Malcolm Bronson of McNeese State and Darnell Taylor of Sam Houston State.

Bronson and Taylor join Rose representing the Southland Conference in the elite group.

Rose, a 5-11, 230-pound senior from New Orleans-O. Perry Walker, has 220 tackles in the last two seasons.

Bios of all 20 players on the Buchanan Award Watch List can be found on The Sports Network's FCS Awards page at http://tinyurl.com/yhv6oh8.

Buchanan, a Grambling legend who was an eight-time All-Pro defensive tackle during 13 NFL seasons in which he missed only one game (1963-75) with the Kansas City Chiefs, is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the College Football Hall of Fame and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

The Buchanan Award Watch List can undergo revisions during the 2012 season. Ballots will be sent to a panel of about 175 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries following the regular season on Nov. 19. The top three vote-getters will be invited to The Sports Network FCS Awards Presentation in Frisco, Texas, two days before the FCS National Championship Game on Saturday, Jan. 5.

The Sports Network also presents the Walter Payton, Jerry Rice and Eddie Robinson awards. The Payton Award honors the FCS player of the year, the Rice Award goes to the FCS freshman of the year and the Robinson Award honors the FCS coach of the year.

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