Four Added to Walter Payton Award Watch List; Three Join Buck Buchanan Award Watch List

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Excellent early season play has led to four players joining the 2011 Walter Payton Award Watch List and three others being added to Buck Buchanan Award, the two highest individual awards in the Football Championship Subdivision which are presented by The Sports Network and sponsored by Fathead.com.

Joining the race for the 25th Walter Payton Award, which honors the outstanding player in the FCS, are Indiana State sophomore running back Shakir Bell, New Hampshire senior quarterback Kevin Decker, Lehigh senior quarterback Chris Lum and Idaho State junior wide receiver Rodrick Rumble. Joining the race for the Buck Buchanan Award, which is presented to the FCS' outstanding defensive player, are Presbyterian senior cornerback Justin Bethel, Prairie View A&M senior defensive end Adrian Hamilton and Northern Iowa senior linebacker L.J. Fort.

Lum and Decker have led their teams into the national Top 10, with Lum ranking first in the FCS in touchdown passes (19) and total offense (371 ypg) and sixth in passing efficiency (160.31), and Decker fifth in passing efficiency (165.59) and eighth in total offense (310 ypg). They rank first and second in points responsible for per game (Lum, 23.6; Decker, 23.5).

Bell ranks second in rushing yards per game (153.4) and this past weekend was one yard shy of posting his third straight 200-yard game. Rumble has set the national pace in receptions per game (11) and receiving yards per game (151.4).

Among the defensive standouts, Bethel has scored three touchdowns – two off blocked kicks and one off an interception – while making plays all over the field. Hamilton is on a three-game run in which he's been a part of 10 sacks (six solos and four assists for eight total), including four against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Fort shares the FCS lead with four forced fumbles and has made at least a dozen tackles in each of second-ranked Northern Iowa's first four games.

Each Watch List features 20 players, and 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 industry leader of authentic officially licensed sports and entertainment graphic products. Fathead gives fans the opportunity to "FEEL The REAL" by bringing their favorite passion or inspiration to life. Fathead products include Fathead Customs and Fathead "Real Big", the life-size, high definition wall graphics of professional athletes, animated heroes, entertainment characters, team stadiums, 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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