UMaine's senior linebacker Sterling Sheffield has been added to the Buck Buchanan Award 'Watch List'.

That means he'll be added to a list of players who could win the coveted 'best defensive player in FCS football' honor.

Sheffield has 8.5 sacks and that is tops in the Colonial Athletic Association and is 9th best in the nation. He is tied for the league lead in tackles for a loss with 12.

Add in the fact that that Sheffield has two fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles, an interception and 59 total tackles.

He is now one of 37 defensive players on the list provided by STATS FSC.

The award is named for the great former Kansas City Chiefs lineman Buck Buchanan who played his college football at Grambling. He is in the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Check out the list of past Buck Buchanan Award winners...

2017Darius Jackson, Jacksonville State
2016Karter Schult, Northern Iowa
2015Deon King, Norfolk State
2014Kyle Emanuel, North Dakota State
2013Brad Daly, Montana State
2012Caleb Schreibeis, Montana State
2011Matt Evans, New Hampshire
2010J.C. Sherritt, Eastern Washington
2009Arthur Moats, James Madison
2008Greg Peach, Eastern Washington
2007Kroy Biermann, Montana
2006Kyle Shotwell, Cal Poly
2005Chris Gocong, Cal Poly
2004Jordan Beck, Cal Poly
2003Jared Allen, Idaho State
2002Rashean Mathis, Bethune-Cookman
2001Derrick Lloyd, JMU
2000Edgerton Hartwell, Western Illinois
1999Al Lucas, Troy State
1998James Milton, Western Illinois
1997Chris McNeil, North Carolina A&T
1996Dexter Coakley, Appalachian State
1995Dexter Coakley, Appalachian State

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