University of Northern Iowa Athletics
UNI football: Linebacker Spencer Cuvelier cracks Buck Buchanan watch list
8/4/2022 11:40:00 AM | Football
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - UNI linebacker Spencer Cuvelier is among the first 35 FCS players nominated to the 2022 Buck Buchanan Award preseason watch list.
Stats Perform presents the Buck Buchanan Award to the national defensive player of the year in college football's Division I subdivision.
More players can join the watch list during the regular season, and afterwards a national media panel will select the winner. First awarded in 1995, the Buchanan includes past recipients such as Dexter Coakley, Rashean Mathis, Jared Allen and Arthur Moats.
Cuvelier, a senior linebacker from Cresco, Iowa, has also been nominated for the Allstate's 31st AFCA Good Works Team, one of the most coveted community service awards in college football. He was named to the Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-American Second Team Defense, the Phil Steele FCS Preseason All-American Third Team Defense and the Bluebloods Preseason All-MVFC Team. He also earned MVFC Preseason First Team Defense and Phil Steele MVFC Preseason First Team Defense honors.
His 2021 season was cut short due to injury. He played and started in eight games before injury interrupted play midseason. He was named the Stats Perform National Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in the season opener against Sacramento State by forcing six turnovers; recovering two fumbles; and notching 15 tackles, reaching double figures for the 10th time in 19 career games.Â
Cuvelier finished the year fifth in the Missouri Valley Football Conference for tackles per game with 8.2. He earned First Team MVFC Offense honors in addition to being named to Phil Steele's FCS All-MVFC First Team Defense.
Also this season, Stats Perform will present the Walter Payton Award (FCS offensive player of the year), Jerry Rice Award (FCS freshman player of the year), Eddie Robinson Award (FCS coach of the year) and Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Other Panthers with Buck Buchanan honors:The preseason watch list:
Stats Perform presents the Buck Buchanan Award to the national defensive player of the year in college football's Division I subdivision.
More players can join the watch list during the regular season, and afterwards a national media panel will select the winner. First awarded in 1995, the Buchanan includes past recipients such as Dexter Coakley, Rashean Mathis, Jared Allen and Arthur Moats.
Cuvelier, a senior linebacker from Cresco, Iowa, has also been nominated for the Allstate's 31st AFCA Good Works Team, one of the most coveted community service awards in college football. He was named to the Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-American Second Team Defense, the Phil Steele FCS Preseason All-American Third Team Defense and the Bluebloods Preseason All-MVFC Team. He also earned MVFC Preseason First Team Defense and Phil Steele MVFC Preseason First Team Defense honors.
His 2021 season was cut short due to injury. He played and started in eight games before injury interrupted play midseason. He was named the Stats Perform National Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in the season opener against Sacramento State by forcing six turnovers; recovering two fumbles; and notching 15 tackles, reaching double figures for the 10th time in 19 career games.Â
Cuvelier finished the year fifth in the Missouri Valley Football Conference for tackles per game with 8.2. He earned First Team MVFC Offense honors in addition to being named to Phil Steele's FCS All-MVFC First Team Defense.
Also this season, Stats Perform will present the Walter Payton Award (FCS offensive player of the year), Jerry Rice Award (FCS freshman player of the year), Eddie Robinson Award (FCS coach of the year) and Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Other Panthers with Buck Buchanan honors:
- 2001 Adam Vogt (4th)
- 2011 L.J. Fort (2nd)
- Ben Boothby (9th)
- 2014 Xavier Williams (13th)
- 2015 Deiondre' Hall (5th)
- 2016 Karter Schult (1st)
- 2019 Elerson Smith (9th)
- 2021 Jared Brinkman (7th) - spring season
- 2021 Jared Brinkman (on watch list) - fall season
- 2022 Spencer Cuvelier
The preseason watch list:
Defensive Linemen
Brevin Allen, Campbell, Sr., 6-4, 265 (2021 Finalist)
Ty French, Gardner-Webb, Jr., 6-3, 230
Jeblonski Green, South Carolina State, R-Jr., 6-3, 265
Malik Hamm, Lafayette, Sr., 6-3, 260
Jonathan Hammond, Davidson, Jr., 6-2, 227
Titus Leo, Wagner, Gr., 6-4, 245 (2020 and 2021 Finalist)
Jordan Lewis, Southern, Jr., 6-3, 195 (2020 Buck Buchanan Award recipient)
Nate Lynn, William & Mary, Jr., 6-3, 265 (2021 Finalist)
Devonnsha Maxwell, Chattanooga, Sr., 6-3, 296 (2021 Finalist)
Clay Patterson, Yale, Jr., 6-3, 267
Kevin Peprah, Sacred Heart, Sr., 6-2, 235
Markel Perry, Sam Houston, R-Sr., 6-2, 220
Josiah Silver, New Hampshire, So., 6-2, 232
B.J. Thompson, Stephen F. Austin, Sr., 6-6, 210Spencer Waege, North Dakota State, Sr., 6-5, 278
Linebackers
Kelechi Anyalebechi, UIW, Gr., 6-0, 240 (2021 Finalist)
Adam Bock, South Dakota State, Jr., 6-1, 215 (2021 Finalist)
Spencer Cuvelier, UNI, R-Sr., 6-3, 245
Jacob Dobbs, Holy Cross, Sr., 6-0, 232 (2021 Finalist)
John Ford II, UT Martin, LB, Gr., 6-3, 230
Ryan Greenhagen, Fordham, Gr., 6-1, 245 (2020 Finalist)
David Hoage, Northern Colorado, Jr., 6-3, 250
Matthew Jackson, Eastern Kentucky, R-Sr., 6-2, 205 (2021 Finalist)
James Kaczor, North Dakota State, Sr., 6-0, 212
Isaiah Land, Florida A&M, Sr., 6-4, 215 (2021 Buck Buchanan Award recipient)
Patrick O'Connell, Montana, R-Sr., 6-2, 225 (2021 Finalist)
Stone Snyder, VMI, Sr., 6-3, 240 (2020 and 2021 Finalist)
Tristan Wheeler, Richmond, R-Jr., 6-2, 228
Defensive Backs
Anthony Adams, Portland, State, Sr., 6-0, 185 (2019 Finalist)
Montrae Braswell, Missouri State, Jr., 6-0, 190
Justin Ford, Montana, R-Sr., 6-2, 190 (2021 Finalist)
Robby Hauck, Montana, R-Sr., 5-10, 185
Ferlando Jordan, Southeastern Louisiana, R-Sr., 6-0, 180
Michael Tutsie, North Dakota State, Sr., 5-11, 193
Kedrick Whitehead, Delaware, Sr., 5-11, 195
Players Mentioned
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