Excellent early season play has led to four players joining the 2011 Walter Payton Award Watch List and three others being added to Buck Buchanan Award, the two highest player awards in the Football Championship Subdivision. Both are presented by The Sports Network and sponsored by Fathead.com. Presbyterian College senior Justin Bethel was added to the Buck Buchanan Award Watch List for his efforts on the field so far this season
The Big South Conference's career leader in blocked kicks has added two more to his total, scoring a touchdown on each one this season. He has been in on a team-high 37 tackles, including a sack. He has intercepted three passes and scored a TD off one. Bethel has also broken up four passes. He recorded over 50 tackles in each of his first three seasons, earning All-Big South second-team honors as both a sophomore and junior.
Hamilton is on a three-game run in which he's been a part of 10 sacks (six solos and four assists for eight total), including four against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Fort shares the FCS lead with four forced fumbles and has made at least a dozen tackles in each of second-ranked Northern Iowa's first four games.
Joining the race for the 25th Walter Payton Award, which honors the outstanding player in the FCS, are Indiana State sophomore running back Shakir Bell, New Hampshire senior quarterback Kevin Decker, Lehigh senior quarterback Chris Lum and Idaho State junior wide receiver Rodrick Rumble. Joining the race for the Buck Buchanan Award, which is presented to the FCS' outstanding defensive player, are Presbyterian senior cornerback Justin Bethel, Prairie View A&M senior defensive end Adrian Hamilton and Northern Iowa senior linebacker L.J. Fort.
Lum and Decker have led their teams into the national Top 10, with Lum ranking first in the FCS in touchdown passes (19) and total offense (371 ypg) and sixth in passing efficiency (160.31), and Decker fifth in passing efficiency (165.59) and eighth in total offense (310 ypg). They rank first and second in points responsible for per game (Lum, 23.6; Decker, 23.5).
Bell ranks second in rushing yards per game (153.4) and this past weekend was one yard shy of posting his third straight 200-yard game. Rumble has set the national pace in receptions per game (11) and receiving yards per game (151.4).
A national panel of sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries will vote on the Payton and Buchanan awards after the regular season, beginning Nov. 21. The voters also will choose winners of the inaugural Jerry Rice Award (FCS freshman of the year) and the 25th Eddie Robinson Award (FCS coach of the year) to be presented at the FCS national awards banquet Friday night, Jan. 6 in Frisco, Texas. The Sports Network also presents and Fathead.com sponsors those two awards.
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