NORMAL - In its quest for Buchanan Award glory, ISU has another contestant. Redbird senior linebacker Kye Stewart has been selected to the 16-player watch list for the Buck Buchanan Award, which is presented to the top defensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision.

Stewart ranked second on his team and in the Gateway Conference last season with 126 tackles. He trailed only teammate Cameron Siskowic, who finished fifth in the Buchanan Award voting.

The 210-pound Stewart had 15 tackles and a sack in ISU's season-opening 27-24 loss to Drake Thursday at Hancock Stadium.

Stewart will try to make it six straight years the Redbirds have had a player in the top five of the Buchanan voting. Before Siskowic, Brent Hawkins was second in 2005 and Boomer Grigsby was third in 2004, second in 2003 and third in 2002.

The only other Gateway player on the initial Buchanan Award watch list is Youngstown State linebacker James Terry.