Thursday, July 19, 2012

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – San Diego defensive lineman Blake Oliaro, the returning Pioneer Football League Defensive Player of the Year, has been named as one of 20 players to the Buck Buchanan Watch List, presented by The Sports Network, Thursday.

Oliaro was named the PFL's Defensive Player of the Year and first-team All-PFL selection in 2011 as a redshirt sophomore. He finished the season ranked fourth among FCS athletes with 1.36 sacks per game (15 sacks in 11 games) and was ranked 10th nationally with 1.77 tackles for loss per game (19.5 total).

He joins a select group of 20 players named to the preseason watch list. Among those named was New Hampshire linebacker Matt Evans, the 2011 Buchanan Award Winner. Bios of all 20 players can be found on the FCS Awards page at http://tinyurl.com/yhv6oh8.

The Buchanan Award has been presented annually since 1995 to the Football Championship Subdivision's top defensive player as selected by a panel of sports information and media relation directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries following the regular season. The top three vote-getters are then invited to The Sports Network FCS Awards Presentation.