Jones Named to Buck Buchanan Award Watch List
Central Connecticut senior linebacker Tre Jones was named to the 25-player preseason watch list announced Wednesday for the Stats Perform FCS Buck Buchanan Award, which is presented annually to the most outstanding defensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision. Jones was among a list of 35 athletes named to the preseason watch list for the award given to the nation's top defensive player in FCS.
Jones has been named to the Preseason All-Northeast Conference Team in back-to-back seasons after earning All-NEC First Team honors in 2019. He ranked fourth in the NEC with 8.0 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss, along with 58.0 tackles and a pair of interceptions. A two-time NEC Defensive Player of the Week as a junior, he also collected All-ECAC Second Team honors and was presented with the "Pride of Rhode Island" Award by Providence Gridiron Club after helping the Blue Devils win the 2019 conference championship. In the NCAA playoffs against Albany he recorded 6.0 tackles and had an interception.
The Buck Buchanan, named for the legendary defensive lineman, enters its 27th season and is presented to the national defensive player of the year in college football's Division I subdivision. More players can join the watch list during the regular season, and a national media panel will select the winner following it. Dexter Coakley won the inaugural Buchanan in 1995 and repeated a year later, but there hasn't been a two-time recipient since, although other past winners such as Rashean Mathis, Jared Allen and Arthur Moats joined Coakley with excellent NFL careers.
Also this season, Stats Perform will present the Walter Payton Award (FCS offensive player of the year), Jerry Rice Award (FCS freshman player of the year), Eddie Robinson Award (FCS coach of the year) and Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
