Sione Teuhema named to STATS Buck Buchanan Award Watch List

HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana senior linebacker Sione Teuhema has been added to the STATS Buck Buchanan Award Watch List in an announcement from STATS LLC on Wednesday.

The Buck Buchanan Award was established in 1995 and is awarded annually to the nation’s top defensive player. The award’s namesake starred at Grambling, was the first overall pick in the 1963 AFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990.

Teuhema was one of six players added to the watch list on Wednesday, along with Northern Iowa senior linebacker Jared Farley, Samford junior defensive end Ahmad Gooden, Idaho State senior linebacker Mario Jenkins, Elon junior linebacker Warren Messer and San Diego senior defensive end Jonathan Peterson.

Teuhema is the fourth Lion to be named to the Buck Buchanan Award watch list during SLU head coach Ron Roberts’ six-year tenure at the helm of the Southeastern program. Teuhema joins Robert Alford (2012), Isiah Corbett (2014) and Harlan Miller (2015).

Teuhema is one of four Southland Conference players on the list. He joins Sam Houston State defensive end P.J. Hall, Houston Baptist senior linebacker Garrett Dolan and Central Arkansas senior cornerback Tremon Smith.

The addition to the Buck Buchanan Award watch list is the latest national recognition for Teuhema. Teuhema, who is one of three FCS players on the Butkus Award watch list, was singled out by ESPN analyst Todd McShay on Monday as a potential sleeper in the 2018 NFL Draft.

After an effective 2016 that saw him earn All-Southland Conference honors despite missing three games with injury, Teuhema has taken his game to another level in his senior campaign. The Keller, Texas native leads the Southland Conference and ranks fourth in the nation with eight sacks and 15.0 tackles for loss. His 53 tackles place him eighth in the league rankings.

The Buchanan Award has sent past winners such as Dexter Coakley, Rashean Mathis, Jared Allen, Arthur Moats and Kyle Emanuel on to the NFL. A national panel of over 150 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries will vote on 25 finalists following the regular season.

The Lions (4-3, 4-1 Southland) will look to extend their four-game winning streak when it heads to Abilene Christian for a 2:30 p.m. league contest this Saturday. The game will air on the Southeastern Sports Radio Network (KSLU 90.9 FM, Kajun 107.1 FM, The Highway 104.7 FM, WFPR 1400 AM). Fans can also listen to the hour-long show online at www.LionSports.net/listenlive and via the TuneIn Radio app, while a live video stream will be accessible at www.ACUSports.com.

2017 STATS Buck Buchanan Award Watch List
Sione Teuhema, Southeastern Louisiana, LB, Sr., 6-4, 260, Keller, Texas*
Pat Afriyie, Colgate, DE, Sr., 6-2, 240, Sandy Hook, Conn.
Keontre Anderson, Jackson State, DE, Sr., 6-4, 250, Canton, Miss.
Andrew Ankrah, James Madison, DE, Sr., 6-4, 240, Gaithersburg, Md.
Mike Basile, Monmouth, SS, Sr., 6-1, 200, Brick, N.J.
Marlon Bridges, Jacksonville State, FS, So., 6-1, 220, Lanett, Ala.
Nick DeLuca, North Dakota State, LB, Sr., 6-3, 248, Omaha, Neb.
Garrett Dolan, Houston Baptist, LB, Sr., 6-2, 240, Mont Belvieu, Texas
Anthony Ellis, Charleston Southern, DE, Sr., 6-1, 245, Apopka, Fla.
Jared Fairley, Northern Iowa, LB, Sr., 5-11, 224, Cedar Falls, Iowa*
Ahmad Gooden, Samford, DE, Jr., 6-1, 240, Talladega, Ala.*
P.J. Hall, Sam Houston State, DE, Sr., 6-1, 280, Seguin, Texas
Davontae Harris, Illinois State, CB, R-Sr., 6-0, 200, Wichita, Kan.
Kurt Holuba, Princeton, DE, Sr., 6-3, 260, Ho-Ho-Kus, N.J.
Darius Jackson, Jacksonville State, DE, Sr., 6-3, 237, Bessemer, Ala.
Mario Jenkins, Idaho State, LB, Sr., 6-1, 245, Nampa, Idaho*
Darius Leonard, South Carolina State, LB, Sr., 6-3, 200, Lake View, S.C.
Greg Menard, North Dakota State, DE, Sr., 6-2, 238, Lakeview, Minn.
Warren Messer, Elon, LB, Jr., 5-11, 229, Garner, N.C.*
Ebenezer Ogundeko, Tennessee State, DE, Sr., 6-3, 255, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Jonathan Peterson, San Diego, DE, Sr., 6-1, 240, Poway, California*
Cole Reyes, North Dakota, SS, Sr., 6-2, 205, Schaumburg, Ill.
Rob Rolle, Villanova, FS, Sr., 6-0, 190, Newfield, N.J.
Christian Rozeboom, South Dakota State, LB, R-So., 6-2, 225, Sioux Center, Iowa
Tremon Smith, Central Arkansas, DB, Sr., 6-0, 186, Anniston, Ala.
Brett Taylor, Western Illinois, LB, Sr., 6-2, 230, Macomb, Ill.
Kailik Williams, The Citadel, SS, Sr., 5-11, 185, Ormond Beach, Fla.
* – New additions to watch list