CHICAGO – South Dakota State linebacker Adam Bock was one of 35 players named Thursday to the preseason watch list for the 2022 Walter Payton Award, which is presented annually by Stats Perform to the top defensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision. 

A junior from Solon, Iowa, Bock was the Jackrabbits’ leading tackler during the 2021 season, totaling 125 stops in starting all 15 games at middle linebacker. He also registered 9.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, intercepted two passes and forced a pair of fumbles. Bock tallied 10 or more tackles six times last season, including a career-high 17 tackles in an Oct. 9 game versus Southern Illinois.

Bock was a late addition to the Buck Buchanan Award watch list last season and tied for 11th in the balloting.

The watch list will be updated periodically throughout the regular season, with a national media panel selecting the Buck Bucahanan Award winner prior to the FCS national championship game.

2022 Buck Buchanan Award 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, 255 (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, 210

Spencer 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, Northern Iowa, R-Sr., 6-3, 245

Jacob Dobbs, Holy Cross, Sr., 6-0, 232 (2021 Finalist)

John Ford II, UT Martin,  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