Three Panthers Named to National Watch Lists
11/7/2019 9:34:00 PM | Football
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Three Panthers have been added to STATS National Award Watch Lists, the organization announced this week. Junior defensive end Elerson G. Smith was added to the Buck Buchanan Award (Defensive Player of the Year) Watch List and Omar Brown and Will McElvain were named to the Jerry Rice Award (Freshman of the Year) Award Watch list.
Smith leads the MVFC in sacks and tackles for loss and is ranked third in the FCS for sacks and 13th in the FCS for TFLs. He is seventh in forced fumbles in the FCS. Through nine games, he has 14.5 TFLs and 10.0 sacks. He also has three pass breakups, seven quarterback hits and three forced fumbles so far this year. He has total tackles on the season, good enough for eighth on the Panther team. He was named the MVFC Defensive Player of the Week after leading UNI to a recording three sacks against Idaho State and again after earning 2.5 sacks against Youngstown State.
Brown leads the MVFC in interceptions with five after recording a pair last weekend against Illinois State on the road in Normal. He is fourth on the team with 52 total tackles, including three TFLs, he also has three pass breakups. He was named STATS FCS National Freshman of the Week after his performance last week after earning MVFC Defensive Player of the Week and Newcomer of the Week honors.
McElvain stepped into the starting role at quarterback as a redshirt freshman this season. He has thrown for 1,948 yards and 17 touchdowns with just three interceptions. He is 12th in the FCS in yards per reception and 31st in pass efficiency. He also has 236 yards rushing on the year.
The Buchanan Award Watch List consists of 42 athletes. Twenty-four players were named to the Rice Award Watch List. UNI is the only team with two players on the list.
A national panel of over 150 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries will vote on the awards following the regular season.
The Panthers are 6-3 on the season and ranked fifth in the nation and host Indiana State Saturday at 4 p.m. at the UNI-Dome. Tickets are still available at unipanthers.com/tickets.
Smith leads the MVFC in sacks and tackles for loss and is ranked third in the FCS for sacks and 13th in the FCS for TFLs. He is seventh in forced fumbles in the FCS. Through nine games, he has 14.5 TFLs and 10.0 sacks. He also has three pass breakups, seven quarterback hits and three forced fumbles so far this year. He has total tackles on the season, good enough for eighth on the Panther team. He was named the MVFC Defensive Player of the Week after leading UNI to a recording three sacks against Idaho State and again after earning 2.5 sacks against Youngstown State.
Brown leads the MVFC in interceptions with five after recording a pair last weekend against Illinois State on the road in Normal. He is fourth on the team with 52 total tackles, including three TFLs, he also has three pass breakups. He was named STATS FCS National Freshman of the Week after his performance last week after earning MVFC Defensive Player of the Week and Newcomer of the Week honors.
McElvain stepped into the starting role at quarterback as a redshirt freshman this season. He has thrown for 1,948 yards and 17 touchdowns with just three interceptions. He is 12th in the FCS in yards per reception and 31st in pass efficiency. He also has 236 yards rushing on the year.
The Buchanan Award Watch List consists of 42 athletes. Twenty-four players were named to the Rice Award Watch List. UNI is the only team with two players on the list.
A national panel of over 150 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries will vote on the awards following the regular season.
The Panthers are 6-3 on the season and ranked fifth in the nation and host Indiana State Saturday at 4 p.m. at the UNI-Dome. Tickets are still available at unipanthers.com/tickets.
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