POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – Fifth-year senior linebacker Willie Barrett of the Marist football team has been named to the 2018 STATS FCS Buck Buchanan Award Watch List. The Buck Buchanan Award is presented to the top defensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision.
 
On Monday, Barrett was named Preseason All-Pioneer Football League. He was named First Team All-PFL, PFL Defensive Player of the Week twice, and Honorable Mention All-FCS twice. Barrett led the Red Foxes with nine-and-a-half tackles for loss and three fumble recoveries last season. He also tied for the team lead with three sacks and two forced fumbles. His three fumble recoveries were the most by a Red Fox in the last 15 seasons.
 
The last Red Fox to be named to the Buck Buchanan Award Watch List was Terrence Fede, who was added during the 2013 season. That year, Fede set Marist's single-season and career records for sacks, was named PFL Defensive Player of the Year, was named to five FCS All-American Teams, and finished sixth in the Buck Buchanan Award voting. The following spring, Fede became the first Marist football player selected in the NFL Draft when he was chosen in the seventh round by the Miami Dolphins.
 
The Buck Buchanan Award was first issued in 1995. Past winners who went on to enjoy NFL careers include Dexter Coakley, Rashean Mathis, Jared Allen, Arthur Moats, and Kyle Emanuel. The watch list will be updated during the season. A national panel of over 150 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers, and other dignitaries will vote on the 25 finalists after the regular season. For this year's full watch list, please click here.
 
Marist opens the 2018 season on Saturday, Sept. 1 against Georgetown at Tenney Stadium. The Red Foxes open PFL play on Saturday, Sept. 22 at Stetson. This season marks Marist's 10^th in the PFL. Two former Marist football players – Fede (Buffalo Bills) and Jason Myers (Seattle Seahawks) – are currently on NFL rosters. For information on season tickets, please click here.