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Brett Taylor

Football WIU Athletic Communications

Brett Taylor Named to Buck Buchanan Award Watch List

Senior linebacker one of 21 defensive players named nationally

MACOMB, Ill. – Last year linebacker Brett Taylor (Macomb/Macomb HS) was a late addition to the STATS Buck Buchanan Award Watch List, an honor given to the 'National Defensive Player of the Year'. Thanks to an All-American type season, he would go on and finish seventh in the final voting. The 2017 Buchanan Award Watch List was announced on Friday (Aug. 4) and Taylor is one of 21 from across the nation up for the prestigious accolade.
 
Taylor was tabbed as one of the preseason 'Top 10' players in the FCS by STATS last month and earlier in the week was voted preseason All-American. He led the Leathernecks during his junior year making 134 total tackles (94 solos). His 8.5 solo tackles per game led all NCAA Division I FCS players and his 12.2 tackles per game ranked third in the country.
 
He begins his final year with 307 career tackles, good for 11th place on the WIU all-time list, and his 198 career solo tackles currently ranks him sixth all-time.
 
The two-time All-Missouri Valley Football Conference selection is looking to become the third Leatherneck all-time to win the Buchanan Award, joining James Milton (1998) and Edgerton Hartwell (2000).
 
Western, preseason ranked No. 19 nationally by Athlon, opens the 2017 season at Tennessee Tech on August 31st. Season tickets for the upcoming year are currently on sale. Fans can purchase tickets by calling (309) 298-1190 or purchase online at GoLeathernecks.com.
 
2017 Buck Buchanan Award Watch List
Pat Afriyie (Colgate), Sr/DE… finished 13th in 2016 Buchanan Award voting
Keontre Anderson (Jackson State), Sr/DE
Andrew Ankrah (James Madison), Sr/DE
Mike Basile (Monmouth), SR/DB… finished 24th in the 2016 Buchanan Award
Marlon Bridges (Jacksonville State), Soph/DB
Nick DeLuca (North Dakota State), Sr/LB
Garrett Dolan (Houston Baptist), Sr/LB… finished 11th in the 2016 Buchanan Award
Anthony Ellis (Charleston Southern), Sr/DE… finished 21st in the 2016 Buchanan Award
P.J. Hall (Sam Houston State), Sr/DE… finished 2nd in the 2016 Buchanan Award
Davontae Harris (Illinois State), Sr/DB
Kurt Holuba (Princeton), Sr/DE
Darius Jackson (Jacksonville State), Sr/DE… finished 4th in the 2016 Buchanan Award
Darius Leonard (South Carolina State), Sr/LB… finished 10th in the 2016 Buchanan Award
Greg Menard (North Dakota State), Sr/DE
Ebenezer Ogundeko (Tennessee State), Sr/DE
Cole Reyes (North Dakota), Sr/DB
Rob Rolle (Villanova), Sr/DB
Christian Rozeboom (South Dakota State), Soph/LB
Tremon Smith (Central Arkansas), Sr/DB
Brett Taylor (Western Illinois), Sr/LB… finished 7th in the 2016 Buchanan Award
Kailik Williams (The Citadel), Sr/DB
 
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Players Mentioned

Brett Taylor

#44 Brett Taylor

LB
6' 2"
Senior
Macomb

Players Mentioned

Brett Taylor

#44 Brett Taylor

6' 2"
Senior
Macomb
LB