SEMO Football player makes 2024 Buck Buchanan Award Preseason Watch List

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) – Southeast Missouri inside linebacker Bryce Norman made the 2024 Stats Perform Buck Buchanan Award Preseason Watch List Wednesday.

This year marks the 30th Anniversary season of the Buck Buchanan Award. It will be presented to the National Defensive Player of the Year in Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) football.

The award is named for legendary defensive lineman Junious “Buck” Buchanan. He starred at Grambling State as part of his Hall of Fame career.

All 13 FCS conferences are represented on the 30-player preseason watch list that includes 10 past finalists.

Norman, Eastern Illinois linebacker Elijawah Tolbert and UT Martin defensive back Oshae Baker represent the Big South-OVC Association on the initial preseason watch list.

Norman is a native of Jackson, Missouri. He earned Second-Team Stats Perform Preseason All-America honors earlier this week.

Also this season, the Walter Payton Award (FCS Offensive Player of the Year), Jerry Rice Award (FCS Freshman Player of the Year), Eddie Robinson Award (FCS Coach of the Year), Urban Edge Network HBCU+ Player of the Year and FedEx Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year will be presented at the Stats Perform national awards banquet on Jan. 5 in Frisco, Texas.