CHICAGO – Gardner-Webb end
Ty French was named to the prestigious Buck Buchanan Award Watch List on Thursday, another honor on a growing list for the junior standout.
The award is given annually to the nation's top defensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision. Administered by Stats Perform, the award will be presented prior to the national championship game in January.
The Buchanan Award, named for Pro Football Hall of Famer and former Grambling State star Buck Buchanan. The standout defensive tackle played for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1963-1975 and won Super Bowl IV.
French is making his second appearance on one of Stats Perform's most important national awards. The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder was a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award following the spring 2021 season – which is given to the nation's top freshman each season.
After announcing his arrival to college football with a debut that included 12 tackes, 4.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in a win over No. 24 Elon on February 27, 2021, French continued to dominate as a sophomore. He finished last season with 61 total tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 quarterback sacks.
French earned Freshman All-America and Sophomore All-America honors for his efforts and enters his third season with 22.5 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks and 24 quarterback pressures in just 14 career games to date.
A former three-star recruit at Colquit County (Ga.) High, French is one of 35 men on the 2022 preseason watch list for the Buchanan Award.
Gardner-Webb will open its 2022 season at home on Thursday, September 1 at 7:00 pm in Ernest W. Spangler Stadium vs. Limestone. TIckets and parking passes are available online at GWUSports.com or by calling the Gardner-Webb athletics department at (704) 406-4340.
The full Buchanan Watch List is included below:
Defensive Linemen
Brevin Allen, Campbell, Sr., 6-4, 265 (2021 Finalist)
Ty French, Gardner-Webb, Jr., 6-3, 230
Jeblonski Green, South Carolina State, R-Jr., 6-3, 265
Malik Hamm, Lafayette, Sr., 6-3, 260
Jonathan Hammond, Davidson, Jr., 6-2, 227
Titus Leo, Wagner, Gr., 6-4, 245 (2020 and 2021 Finalist)
Jordan Lewis, Southern, Jr., 6-3, 195 (2020 Buck Buchanan Award recipient)
Nate Lynn, William & Mary, Jr., 6-3, 255 (2021 Finalist)
Devonnsha Maxwell, Chattanooga, Sr., 6-3, 296 (2021 Finalist)
Clay Patterson, Yale, Jr., 6-3, 267
Kevin Peprah, Sacred Heart, Sr., 6-2, 235
Markel Perry, Sam Houston, R-Sr., 6-2, 220
Josiah Silver, New Hampshire, So., 6-2, 232
B.J. Thompson, Stephen F. Austin, Sr., 6-6, 210
Spencer Waege, North Dakota State, Sr., 6-5, 278
Linebackers
Kelechi Anyalebechi, UIW, Gr., 6-0, 240 (2021 Finalist)
Adam Bock, South Dakota State, Jr., 6-1, 215 (2021 Finalist)
Spencer Cuvelier, Northern Iowa, R-Sr., 6-3, 245
Jacob Dobbs, Holy Cross, Sr., 6-0, 232 (2021 Finalist)
John Ford II, UT Martin, Gr., 6-3, 230
Ryan Greenhagen, Fordham, Gr., 6-1, 245 (2020 Finalist)
David Hoage, Northern Colorado, Jr., 6-3, 250
Matthew Jackson, Eastern Kentucky, R-Sr., 6-2, 205 (2021 Finalist)
James Kaczor, North Dakota State, Sr., 6-0, 212
Isaiah Land, Florida A&M, Sr., 6-4, 215 (2021 Buck Buchanan Award recipient)
Patrick O'Connell, Montana, R-Sr., 6-2, 225 (2021 Finalist)
Stone Snyder, VMI, Sr., 6-3, 240 (2020 and 2021 Finalist)
Tristan Wheeler, Richmond, R-Jr., 6-2, 228
Defensive Backs
Anthony Adams, Portland, State, Sr., 6-0, 185 (2019 Finalist)
Montrae Braswell, Missouri State, Jr., 6-0, 190
Justin Ford, Montana, R-Sr., 6-2, 190 (2021 Finalist)
Robby Hauck, Montana, R-Sr., 5-10, 185
Ferlando Jordan, Southeastern Louisiana, R-Sr., 6-0, 180
Michael Tutsie, North Dakota State, Sr., 5-11, 193
Kedrick Whitehead, Delaware, Sr., 5-11, 195
