OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – University of South Alabama senior linebacker Roman Buchanan was one of 30 football players from the Football Bowl Subdivision selected as a candidate for the Senior CLASS Award for as announced Wednesday afternoon.  

Entering his final season, Buchanan carries a 3.23 cumulative grade-point average and has been named to the Sun Belt Conference Academic Honor Roll following each of his first three years in the program.

Buchanan also embodies the character element of the award as he was chosen by the coaching staff to wear the No. 5 jersey, an honor given each year to a senior in the program in memory of former Jaguar Anthony Mostella.

The Enterprise, Ala., native has represented the program through visits with patients at the USA Women's and Children's Hospital, and twice assisted at the annual pancake breakfast hosted by the Wilmer Hall Children's Home in Mobile. He is a member of the leadership team working with Team Impact that has helped Colby Sawyer—a former patient at USA Women's and Children's Hospital recovering from acute lymphoblastic leukemia—become a member of the Jaguar football program. Buchanan also has spoken to the basketball team at Enterprise High School in his hometown.

The 6-foot-2, 220-pound senior, was selected preseason second-team all-Sun Belt Conference at linebacker this summer despite having played safety his first three years at the collegiate level.  He also was a second-team all-Sun Belt honoree at the conclusion of his junior season and was chosen as the Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Week following the opening game of this season after posting a then career-high 12 tackles and breaking up a pass in USA's first-ever victory—a 21-20 come-from-behind decision at Mississippi State—over an SEC school. Buchanan followed that performance up with a 13-tackle effort against Georgia Southern.  Prior to his 10-plus stops in each of the Jags' first two games, Buchanan had accomplished the feat just once his first three years at the collegiate level.

Buchanan is one of four players in school history to surpass 200 total tackles as he has 214 for his career.  He is also tied for fourth with 13 passes broken up—one shy of tying the school record in the category—and tied for sixth with three interceptions.

This season, Buchanan is tied with teammate Kalen Jackson for the team lead in total tackles (38) and he is third on the Jaguar roster in tackles for loss with six, to go along with two passes broken up and one quarterback hurry.  Entering play this weekend, Buchanan is tied for fifth in the SBC in tackles for loss per game (1.20).

To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I FBS senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.

Of the 30 candidates, 18 have grade-point averages of 3.0 or higher with seven of those holding above a 3.5. Five are returning All-Americans, and 22 were all-conference selections in 2016. Outside of academics and athletics, all candidates have been consistently involved in community service on their campus or in their communities.

From the list of 30 candidates, a national committee will select 10 finalists for the 2016 Senior CLASS Award in November.  Those 10 names will then be placed on the official ballot for a nationwide vote. Fan balloting will be coupled with votes from coaches and media to determine the recipient of the award.  

The 10 finalists will be awarded Senior CLASS Award first- or second-team honors.  The Senior CLASS Award winner will be announced during the football bowl season in early January. For more information on the candidates, visit seniorCLASSaward.com.

Senior CLASS Award Candidates
Zach Banner, Southern California
Skyler Howard, West Virginia
Adam Bisnowaty, Pittsburgh
Ryan Janvion, Wake Forest
Matt Breida, Georgia Southern
Zay Jones, East Carolina
Richie Brown, Mississippi State
Chad Kelly, Ole Miss
Roman Buchanan, South Alabama
KeVonn Mabon, Ball State
Joe Burger, Ohio State
Viliami Moeakiola, Arizona State
Jake Butt, Michigan
Tyler Orlosky, West Virginia
Mike Caprara, Pittsburgh
Mitchell Paige, Indiana
Nick Cuthbert, Kent State
Josiah Price, Michigan State
DeVon Edwards, Duke
Travis Seefeldt, Utah State
Jake Elliott, Memphis
Fish Smithson, Kansas
Evan Engram, Ole Miss
Weston Steelhammer, Air Force
Dane Evans, Tulsa
Justin Vogel, Miami (Fla.)
Jordan Evans, Oklahoma
Greg Ward Jr., Houston
O.J. Howard, Alabama
Tre'Davious White, Louisiana State
Sam Foltz, Nebraska (Honorary)

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

—USA—