Brown, Mellette Added to Walter Payton Award Watch List; Riley Joins Buck Buchanan Award Watch List

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Is it the year of the junior?

Consistent excellence this season has landed Bryant junior running back Jordan Brown and Elon junior wide receiver Aaron Mellette on the 2011 Walter Payton Award Watch List and Alabama State junior free safety Kejuan Riley on the Buck Buchanan Award Watch List.

The Walter Payton Award, celebrating its 25th anniversary, honors the outstanding player in the Football Championship Subdivision, and the Buck Buchanan Award is presented to the division's outstanding defensive player. The two highest player awards in the FCS are presented by The Sports Network and sponsored by Fathead.com.

Brown, 5-foot-9, 185 pounds, leads all FCS players in points scored (110) and rushing yards (1,308). He has been the catalyst for Bryant's offense, rushing for at least 100 yards in each game, as the Bulldogs have gotten off to a 5-3 start. Also a dangerous kick returner, Brown has scored at least two touchdowns in all but one game. He rushed for 1,410 yards and gained 1,896 all-purpose yards as a sophomore last year.

Mellette, 6-4, 212, the top target in coach Jason Swepson's spread offense has continued the impressive play that earned him All-America honors as a sophomore. Catching a touchdown in all but one of Elon's eight games, Mellette ranks second in the FCS for receptions (82) and receiving yards (1,097).

Riley, 6-1, 208, has grabbed six interceptions in Alabama State's 6-1 start to rank second nationally and contribute to the Hornets leading the FCS in turnover margin. He has a team-high 50 tackles, including a career-high 11 against FBS member Eastern Michigan. In living up to his selection on The Sports Network/Fathead.com FCS Preseason All-America First Team, Riley is trying to help guide the Hornets to a second straight appearance in the SWAC Championship Game.

The two watch lists feature 20 players. Their bios can be found at: http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfoot2/fcsawards/index.aspx

A national panel of sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries will vote on the Payton and Buchanan awards after the regular season, beginning Nov. 21. The voters also will choose winners of the inaugural Jerry Rice Award (FCS freshman of the year) and the 25th Eddie Robinson Award (FCS coach of the year) to be presented at the FCS national awards banquet Friday night, Jan. 6 in Frisco, Texas. The Sports Network also presents and Fathead.com sponsors those two awards.

About The Sports Network

The Sports Network (www.sportsnetwork.com), North America's foremost international real-time sports wire service, furnishes a wide range of content on a 24/7 basis utilizing state-of-the-art technology which sets the tone and standard for the entire industry. From statistics to news, weather and injury reports to instant scores, branded product and gamecasts to photography and complete fantasy coverage data, domestic or world-wide, radio or TV, print or Internet, mobile to signage, TSN leads the way.

About Fathead

Fathead LLC is the Real.Big. leading brand in sports and entertainment graphic products. Fathead products give fans the opportunity to bring their favorite passion or inspiration to life. Fathead wall graphics include Fathead Customs, Fathead Canvas and Print Murals and Fathead's flagship "Real Big:" the officially licensed life-size, high definition wall graphics of professional athletes, animated heroes, entertainment characters, team helmets and logos. Fathead maintains license agreements with leading consumer brands across many industries and professional sports leagues. For more information, visit www.fathead.com.

SOURCE The Sports Network

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