Murray State University Athletics
Lane Named to Preseason Buchanan Award Watch List
7/14/2009 2:30:00 PM | Football
Murray State senior defensive end Austen Lane was one of 20 players named to the 2009 Preseason Buck Buchanan Award Watch List released by The Sports Network Tuesday. TSN will announce four players at a time until all 20 players are announced.
The Buchanan Award, established in 1995, honors the best defensive player in the Football Championship Subdivions (FCS). The award is named after Junious “Buck” Buchanan, the NAIA All-American and Pro Football Hall of Fame, defensive lineman who played for Grambling State from 1959 through 1962. He was selected to the NFL's All-Time Roster, indicative of his standing as one of the greatest football players of all time. Buchanan died of cancer July 16, 1992. His uniform number, 86, was retired by Kansas City in 1992.
“I feel honored to be named to the Buck Buchanan Watch List with the best defensive players in the country,” said Lane. “Last year, Nathan Williams was a finalist for the award and this recognition means a lot to the program at Murray State.”
Lane (Iola, Wisc.) has garnered national attention after putting together a 2008 campaign that consisted of school records in sacks (12.0) and tackles-for-loss (22.0), both of which ranked among the national leaders. The efforts earned him Sporting News Fabulous 50 All-America honors, as well as Third-Team All-America honors from the Associated Press.
Earlier this summer, Lane was honored by the Consensus Draft Services as it's Preseason FCS Player of the Year, as well as it's All-America First Team. He was also named a First-Team All-American by TSN. CDS rates Lane as the top defensive prospect in the FCS and the 15th-best defensive end in all of college football.
The 6-7, 270-pounder is the third Racer player to be named to the Buchanan Award Watch List. Defensive back William Hampton finished runner-up in 1995, while linebacker Nathan Williams finished fifth in 2008.
