Friday, August 5, 2016
by Cody Bush, PFL Media Relations

CHICAGO – Stetson senior defensive back Donald Payne was one of 22 players named to the STATS FCS Defensive Player of the Year Watch List, Friday.

Payne, the two-time defending PFL Defensive Player of the Year, was one of two Hatters selected to the preseason team. The Fayetteville, Ga., native returns as the eighth leading tackler in all NCAA football with 412 career tackles. His 243 career solo tackles ranks third among all active players entering the 2016 season.

None of the top 10 vote-getters for last year's STATS FCS Defensive Player of the Year - an award won by Montana defensive end Tyrone Holmes - has returned for the 2016 season.

Pass rushers have come to the forefront with winning national honors, but this year's 22-player preseason watch list, which was announced Friday, had widespread talent, both conference-wise and position-wise.

Returning finalists were linebackers Christian Kuntz of Duquesne and Kourtney Berry of Alabama State; defensive ends Keionta Davis of Chattanooga, P.J. Hall of Sam Houston State and Derek Rivers of Youngstown State; and cornerback Dee Delaney of The Citadel. Kuntz, the Northeast Conference defensive player of the year, finished the highest at No. 11 in the national voting last season.

The breakdown by position for the preseason watch list: 11 defensive ends, seven linebackers and four defensive backs. All 13 FCS conferences had at least one nominee, with the most coming from the Missouri Valley (five) and CAA Football (three).

The list included players from nine programs which won conference titles a year ago, with DeLuca and Menard teammates from NDSU's Missouri Valley power which has won a record five straight FCS national titles.

The STATS FCS Defensive Player of the Year Watch List can undergo revision during the 2016 season. A national panel of over 150 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries will vote on the winner following the regular season.

Also this season, STATS will honor the outstanding offensive player in the FCS, a freshman player of the year, a coach of the year and the Eddie & Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year.