Courtesy Dayton Athletics Media Relations

Dayton, Ohio – Coming off a record-setting year on defense, the University of Dayton’s James Vercammen has been named to the Buck Buchanan Award Watch List by The Sports Network for the upcoming season.

A 2010 co-captain, Vercammen headlined a stout Dayton defense that finished the 2009 campaign as the Pioneer Football League’s best. His 134 total tackles set a new PFL single-season record, were 25 more than anyone else in the PFL, and placed him third-best in the nation on the Football Championship Subdivision level. Playing the hybrid “Flyer” position, Vercammen was all over the field last year and finished as a Second Team FCS All-American and First Team All-PFL selection.

He is now amongst 20 players throughout the country on the preseason list. The Buchanan Award is named after Junious “Buck” Buchanan, a long time Kansas City Chief and former Grambling State University defensive lineman. Created in 1995, the trophy annually honors the defensive player of the year in the FCS and will be presented to the FCS' national defensive player of the year on Thursday, Jan. 6 in Frisco, Texas - the night before the national championship game.

The 2009 winner was James Madison's Arthur Moats, a draft choice of the Buffalo Bills this year..  Of its 16 recipients, nine have gone on to play in the NFL, including three-time All-Pro selection Jared Allen.

Vercammen is the first player in UD’s football program’s history to be named to the preseason watch list. Fellow teammate Steve Valentino was named to the Walter Payton Award Watch List last week, which goes to the nation’s FCS Player of the Year.

The Flyers open up the 2010 season on Saturday, September 4 against Robert Morris at Welcome Stadium.