The College Football Performance Awards, announced its watch list for the 2013 CFPA Linebacker Award, and Presbyterian College's Donelle Williams earned a spot on the list. The preliminary watch list highlights 35 returning performers, vying for the top individual linebacker award in the Football Championship Subdivision.
"Congratulations to PC's Donelle Williams on earning a spot on the 2013 CFPA Watch List," said CFPA Executive Director Brad Smith. "Williams will be one of the top linebackers to watch in 2013."
Williams, who was named to the Big South All-Conference second-team, and was ranked third in tackles in the Big South in tackles with 103 and was just one of three league players and the only PC player with over 100 this season. He was third in the league in tackles by linebackers. He had one pass breakup and one recovered fumble. The 2011 Big South Freshman of the Year had three games with double-digit tackles, including 16 against Charleston Southern, 15 at VMI and 14 at Gardner Webb. The linebacker recorded 12 solo tackles against Charleston Southern and 12 assisted tackles at VMI. Williams, who was named second team College Sports Madness Big South All-Conference Defensive team, led the team in total tackles, as well as solo and assisted. He also paced the team in tackles in seven games last season.
Presbyterian's Justin Bethel earned the 2011 CFPA Elite Punt Returner Award.
All CFPA recipients are selected exclusively based upon objective scientific rankings of the extent to which individual players increase the overall effectiveness of their teams. All players are eligible for awards at their respective positions; players are not preemptively eliminated from consideration.
More than 130 CFPA recipients have signed professional contracts, and twenty-one have been first-round NFL Draft selections. CFPA recipients performing as NFL linebackers include: Von Miller (Texas A&M), Justin Houston (Georgia), Zach Brown (North Carolina), Luke Kuechly (Boston College), Jarvis Jones (Georgia), Keith Pough (Howard), Greg Jones (Michigan State), Danny Trevathan (Kentucky), Nate Irving (North Carolina State), L.J. Fort (Northern Iowa), Tyler Holmes (Massachusetts), and Ian Sluss (Portland State).
Last season, Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel earned the 2012 CFPA National Performer of the Year Trophy, while Harvard quarterback Colton Chapple earned the 2012 CFPA FCS National Performer of the Year Trophy. Multiple award presentations were broadcast live nationally on ESPN, CBS, Fox Sports, Big Ten Network, Pac 12 Network, as well as internationally on BYUtv.
The full list of 2013 recipients, including the 2013 CFPA FCS Awards, will be announced on January 8, 2014.
2013 CFPA Linebacker Award Watch List
• Jarkevis Fields, Bethune-Cookman
• Evan Byers, Bucknell
• Nick Dzubnar, Cal Poly
• Wes Dothard, Chattanooga
• Carl Robinson, The Citadel
• Quinn Backus, Coastal Carolina
• Kris Kent, Colgate
• Jeff Williams, Delaware
• Dorian Bell, Duquesne
• Anthony Brown, Eastern Kentucky
• Ronnie Hamlin, Eastern Washington
• Stephon Robertson, James Madison
• Nigel Muhammad, Lehigh
• Nick Sigmon, Liberty
• Dan Sullivan, Monmouth
• Brock Coyle, Montana
• Jordan Tripp, Montana
• Ra'a Moeakiola, Montana State
• Carlton Littlejohn, North Dakota State
• Grant Olson, North Dakota State
• Lynden Trail, Norfolk State
• Jake Farley, Northern Iowa
• Caleb Taylor, Old Dominion
• Dan Davis, Pennsylvania
• Donelle Williams, Presbyterian College
• Justin Sexton, Sacred Heart
• Justin Hughes, South Carolina State
• Tyler Starr, South Dakota
• T.J. Lally, South Dakota State
• Bryan Presume, Southern Illinois
• Anthony Balancier, Southern University
• Zak Browning, Southern Utah
• Monte Gaddis, Towson
• Ben Johnson, UT-Martin
• Alvin Scioneaux, Wofford.
