Johnston Named To Buchanan Award Mid-Season Watch List
October 16, 2007 | Football
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Gardner-Webb's Brian
Johnston was one of 16 FCS defensive players named to the
mid-season Buck Buchanan Award Watch List by the Sports
Network.
Johnston (6-5, 280), the Sports Network's National Defensive Player
of the Week following a 14-tackle effort on Sept. 29 vs. Austin
Peay, has made 39 stops, 9.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks so far
in 2007. He has been a key in the Bulldogs' more intense
application of pressure as well, registering 10 quarterback
knockdowns and 16 pressures, three pass break ups and a forced
fumble.
A highly-rated player already by professional scouts, Johnston was
listed by ESPN's Mel Kiper as the No. 5 senior defensive end
prospect for the 2008 NFL Draft in his September 27 top-5 ranking,
published on ESPN.com.
Johnston has enjoyed a fine career overall in Boiling Springs,
totaling 233 tackles, 39.0 tackles for loss (minus-199 yards), 17.5
sacks (minus-124 yards), 63 quarterback pressures, 11 forced
fumbles and six pass break ups. He needs just 14 hits to move into
the top-10 in Gardner-Webb history for total tackles, and already
ranks among the school's career leaders in both tackles for loss
and sacks.
He is the second player in GWU history to be named to the Buchanan
Award mid-season list, joining former All-America free safety Mario
Williams (2004).
Gardner-Webb (2-4, 0-0) opens Big South Conference play on Saturday
at VMI. Kickoff is set for 1:00 pm ET in Lexington, Va. (Foster
Stadium).
