| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MVFC starts season with several big-name players
07/31/2009
Danny Batten had one standing offer when he signed with South Dakota State, and it wasn't from his home state team, the University of Arizona.
Today, Batten, a 6-foot-4, 240-pound senior defensive end, is in the running for the nation's highest defensive award in the Football Championship Subdivision. One of five candidates carrying the national torch for the Missouri Valley Football Conference this season, Batten plays with a natural chip on his shoulder because of his recruiting days.
"I came here, came far from home, playing here with something to prove," said Batten, a Gilbert, Ariz. native. "A lot of people in this league got passed up by bigger schools, and that adds a lot of character to this league and to this quote, unquote 'We have something to prove we're just as good, if not better, than a lot of those players.' That's motivation from inside."
Batten will be one of at least four MVFC standouts on the watch list for the Buck Buchanan Award, given to the nation's top Football Championship Subdivision defensive player. Youngstown State defensive lineman Mychal Savage, Southern Illinois University linebacker Brandin Jordan and Northern Iowa defensive end James Ruffin have already been announced. Four more players will be added to the list next week.
The watch list will then be revised in October and November before the final ballot is unveiled. A panel of FCS sports information directors, writers, broadcasters and other football experts will be conducted after the regular season to pare the list to three finalists. Those finalists will be announced Nov. 30 and be invited to the 23rd annual Sports Network Awards banquet Dec. 17 in Chattanooga, Tenn., the night before the FCS title game.
The Walter Payton Award, given to the nation's top offensive player, will follow the same schedule and be awarded the same night as the Buchanan Award. The nation's top FCS coaching honor, the Eddie Robinson Award, which SIU coach Dale Lennon was up for last year, will also be announced that night.
Batten was second in the league with eight sacks last season for the Jackrabbits. An honorable mention All-America selection by the College Sporting News, he racked up all of his sacks during MVFC play.
Savage returns to the field after suffering a season-ending shoulder injury at Ohio State. The 6-2, 305-pound defensive tackle was a first team All-MVFC pick in 2007 after racking up 43 tackles, five for loss, with five sacks and three quarterback hurries. Jordan, one of 10 returning starters for the Salukis on defense, is a four-year starter and currently ranks 13th in school history with 285 career tackles. He hopes to become the first Saluki to become a Buchanan Award finalist.
Although several players have won other national player of the year awards (Saluki tailback Arkee Whitlock was the College Sporting News' Player of the Year in 2006), no one from Valley Football has won the Buchanan Award since Western Illinois linebacker Edgerton Hartwell did in 2000. Leathernecks linebacker James Milton won it two years before that.
A player from the MVFC has never won the Payton Award, although four Salukis made the final ballot: quarterback Joel Sambursky (2004, 2005), Whitlock (2006), quarterback Nick Hill (2007) and running back/return specialist Larry Warner (2008). Whitlock had the highest finish, taking third.
Ruffin was one of the four latest additions to the Buchanan Award watch list, but really, the least surprising. Last year's MVFC Defensive Player of the Year led the league in sacks (10) and tackles for loss (18).
"I try not to put too much pressure on myself," Ruffin said. "I just want our defense to do good, and finish in the top of the league again, and hopefully, if I don't get it, the award stays in-house, and someone else on our defense gets it."
Ruffin's teammate, quarterback Pat Grace, is the league's only candidate for the Payton Award. The former fullback missed part of five games for the Panthers last season because of shoulder and knee injuries, but said he'd be 100 percent by the time UNI opens Sept. 5 at Iowa.
"They worked everyday on my knee, and I'm just getting back to running and cutting and stuff like that," Grace said. "I feel really good, and by the time the season rolls around, I'll be 100 percent."
Grace threw for 2,041 yards, 14 touchdowns and seven interceptions last season for the national semifinalists. He tied for the team lead in rushing touchdowns (11) and was second in the MVFC in total offense per game, averaging 204.5 yards per game.
Grace said if he did become a contender for the Payton Award in November, it wouldn't be solely because of his efforts.
"I'm honored. It's a blessing, and I've worked hard. It's just something that's going to play out," he said. "You know, it's not just me. It starts with the offensive linemen, and our defense. It's everybody on the team, and if that comes around, it's a team award rather than an individual one."
more news »
|
|
|
|
|
|
|