Courtesy: South Dakota State University http://www.gojacks.com/

South Dakota State University defensive end Danny Batten has been named to the initial watch list for the Division I Football Championship Subdivision’s top defensive player.

A senior from Gilbert, Ariz., Batten was among the first group of four players to be considered for the Buck Buchanan Award, which is presented by the Sports Network. A total of 20 candidates will be announced in alphabetical order prior to the start of the season, with four candidates being released each week. The watch list will be revised in October and again in November before the final ballot is announced.
 
Joining Batten on the watch list are Grambling State (La.) defensive end Christian Anthony, Southeastern Louisiana strong safety Tommy Connors and Montana State defensive end Dane Fletcher.

Batten stepped into the starting lineup as a true freshman in 2006 and has started 33 of the Jackrabbits’ 34 games his first three seasons. He has earned honorable mention All-America recognition each of the past two seasons while earning first-team all-Great West Football  Conference honors in 2007 and first-team all-Missouri Valley Football Conference accolades in 2008. Batten ranked fourth on the team with 75 total tackles in 2008 and led the team with eight sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss, putting his career totals at 14 sacks and 35.5 tackles for loss.

Voting from a panel of FCS sports information directors, writers, broadcasters and other football experts will be conducted after the regular season ends. Three finalists will be announced on Nov. 30 and will be invited to the 23rd annual Sports Network Awards banquet on Dec. 17 in Chattanooga, Tenn., the night before the NCAA Division I championship game. The Walter Payton Award and the Eddie Robinson Award will also be presented that evening.