PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Northern Arizona cornerback K.J. Gerard has been named to the final Buck Buchanan Award watch list and will join a list of 16 other players on the ballot for the 2008 Buchanan Award. The voting for the Buchanan Award will be conducted next week.

“It is great for him personally as well as our defensive unit and program,” said Defensive Coordinator Corey Batoon. “He has been a good player for us. It is the culmination of a great career. He has been a huge part of the defensive unit and our success, always talking about team goals first so it is great for him to be recognized for this individual honor.”

The winner of the 14th Buck Buchanan Award, symbolic of the top defensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), will be announced at the annual Sports Network Awards banquet on Dec. 18 in Chattanooga, Tenn., at the Marriott Hotel. The Walter Payton Award, which goes to the top player in FCS, and the Eddie Robinson Award, which is bestowed upon the top coach, will also be awarded on the eve of the NCAA Division I football championship game.

Gerard holds the NAU school record for interceptions with 19, tied for the fifth-best total in Big Sky history. He finished his career ranked tied for first in interceptions among active career leaders in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and Division I overall with 19. In 2008, he was fifth on the team in tackles with 47 with a team-best 38 solos. The Fountain Valley, Calif., native recorded five interceptions to rank second in the Big Sky Conference and tied for 17th nationally (0.45 per game). He also had a team-best nine pass deflections, eight tackles for loss and a forced fumble and blocked kick.

Gerard was named to the 2007 Associated Press (third team) and The Sports Network All-America teams.

“It is a surprise and a real honor to be recognized,” said Gerard. “I had goals in my mind when I came to NAU, but I never pictured the success and statistics.”

Joining Gerard on the Buchanan Award ballot will be linebacker Bobby Abare of Yale, strong safety Colt Anderson of Montana, defensive end Jovan Belcher of Maine, linebacker Zach East of Prairie View, defensive tackle John Faletoese of UC Davis, defensive end Larry Hart of Central Arkansas, free safety Marcus Haywood of James Madison, free safety Mark LeGree of Appalachian State, defensive end Greg Miller of Villanova, defensive end Greg Peach of Eastern Washington, linebacker Andy Romans of Lafayette, linebacker Andy Schantz of Portland State, free safety Lardarius Webb of Nicholls State, linebacker Jason Williams of Western Illinois and linebacker Nathan Williams of Murray State.

Former quarterback Jason Murrietta was the runner-up for the Walter Payton Award in 2006.

The award is named for Junious "Buck" Buchanan, the NAIA All-American and Pro Football Hall of Fame, defensive lineman who played for Grambling State University from 1959 through 1962. He helped lead the Chiefs to two AFL Titles and was instrumental in the Chiefs' victory over the heavily favored Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV. Buchanan was a member of the NAIA, the Kansas City Chiefs and Pro Football's Hall of Fame. He was selected to the NFL's All-Time Roster, indicative of his standing as one of the greatest football players of all time. Buchanan died of cancer July 16, 1992. His uniform number, 86, was retired by Kansas City in 1992.