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Jovan Belcher Named to Buchanan Watch List
Aug. 28, 2008
ORONO, Maine - University of Maine senior defensive end Jovan Belcher (West Babylon, N.Y.) was named to the 2008 Buck Buchanan Award "Watch List" on Thursday. Belcher is one of just 16 players nationally to be placed on the list, as the award is given annually to the nation's top defensive player at the Division I Football Championship Subdivision level. The award is handed out by the Sports Network, which placed Belcher on its 2008 Preseason All-America First-Team last week. This most recent honor joins a list of impressive preseason accolades Belcher has garnered this summer. In addition to the Buchanan List, Belcher has achieved the following honors: **2008 CAA Football Preseason Defensive Player of the Year **Sporting News Preseason All-American **College Sporting News First-Team Preseason All-American **Named the top defensive player in the CAA according to the Sporting News **Phil Steele Preseason First-Team All-American **Lindy's Second-Team Preseason All-American **Preseason All-CAA Football selection **Phil Steele Preseason First-Team All-CAA selection **Ranked one of the top five best defensive linemen in the nation by SME **Voted by his teammates as one of two senior captains Belcher has earned all of these preseason awards following a stellar junior season in 2007, which saw him lead the CAA in sacks (10.0) and tackles for loss (17.0). Belcher was named a Second-Team All-American by the Associated Press, and a Third-Team All-American by the Sports Network. He also garnered First-Team All-CAA honors, while earning All-Star awards from the New England Football Writers Association and the ECAC. Belcher becomes the third Black Bear since 2000 -- and the second one in the last three seasons -- to be named to the Buchanan list. Former standout linebacker Stephen Cooper was a finalist for the award in both 2001 and 2002. Former standout defensive end Matt King was a finalist for the award following the 2006 season.
Belcher and the rest of the Black Bears travel to Iowa City this weekend to kick off the 2008 season versus Big Ten-foe Iowa. The game is set for a 12 p.m. ET/11 a.m. CT kick at Kinnick Stadium, and will be televised nationally by the Big Ten Network (HD). The network is available through dish service.
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