PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Considered as one of the top defensive backs in the Southland Conference and a top prospect in the 2013 NFL Draft, Southeastern Louisiana University's
Robert Alford earned a national honor on Wednesday when he was one of four players added to the Buck Buchanan Award Watch List, presented by the Sports Network to the top defensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision.
Alford, a fifth-year senior and former Hammond High product, has served as the Lions' shutdown cornerback where he has intercepted four passes on the season while recording 37 tackles. Alford has added seven pass breakups and four tackles for loss on the season and has served as the Lions' primary punt returner, averaging 14.1 yards per return with one touchdown.
Alford, one of 20 players named to the prestigious list, was joined by James Madison linebacker Stephon Robertson along with defensive ends Caleb Schreibeis of Montana State and Brandon Thurmond of Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Other nominees on the Watch List are nose tackle Brent Russell of Georgia Southern; defensive ends Joseph LeBeau of Jackson State and Colton Underwood of Illinois State; linebacker and 2011 Buchanan recipient Matt Evans of New Hampshire, linebackers Wes Dothard of Chattanooga, Jeremy Kimbrough of Appalachian State, Robert McCabe of Georgetown, Blake Peiffer of Southeast Missouri, Tyler Starr of South Dakota and Jordan Tripp of Montana; cornerbacks Demetrius McCray of Appalachian State, B.W. Webb of William & Mary and Marcus Williams of 2011 FCS champion North Dakota State; and safeties Jaquiski Tartt of Samford, Cooper Taylor of Richmond and Darnell Taylor of Sam Houston State.
The Buchanan Award will be voted on by a national panel of sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries following the regular season.
The Sports Network also presents the Walter Payton, Jerry Rice and Eddie Robinson awards. The Payton Award honors the outstanding player in the FCS, the Rice Award goes to the FCS freshman of the year and the Robinson Award honors the FCS coach of the year.
All four awards will be presented on Dec. 17 at the FCS Awards Banquet and Presentation in Philadelphia.
