July 30, 2009

Football: DT Mychal Savage Added to Buck Buchanan Award Watch List

    Philadelphia, Pa. (SportsNetwork) -- Youngstown State senior defensive tackle Mychal Savage has been added as a candidate on the watch list for the 2009 Buck Buchanan Award, presented annually to the top defensive player in FCS, the SportsNetwork announced.

    Savage has established himself as one of the top defensive tackles in FCS during an outstanding college career. In 2007, the All-American and first team All-Missouri Valley selection racked up 43 tackles, five for loss, five sacks and three QB hurries.

    He appeared in the 2008 opener against Ohio State and suffered a season-ending shoulder injury allowing him to garner a medical redshirt for this year. 

    As a sophomore, the All-Gateway performer picked up 44 tackles, 5.5 for loss and three sacks. In 2005, the All-Gateway newcomer had 19 tackles and two QB hurries in 10 games. The 2009 preseason All-American has 116 tackles, 12.5 for loss, eight sacks and five QB hurries in his first three collegiate seasons.

    Savage had a career-high 12 stops in a 31-24 win over Western Illinois during his junior campaign, also notching six stops against FBS powerhouse Ohio State.

    A total of 20 candidates will be announced in alphabetical order prior to the start of the season, with four candidates being released each week. The watch list will be revised in October and again in November, before the final ballot is announced.
     Voting from a panel of FCS sports information directors, writers, broadcasters and other football experts will be conducted after the regular season ends. Three finalists will be announced on Nov. 30 and will be invited to the 23rd annual Sports Network Awards banquet on Dec. 17 in Chattanooga, TN., the night before the NCAA Division I championship game. The Walter Payton Award and the Eddie Robinson Award will also be presented that night.