Elon Football’s Messer Added to Buck Buchanan Award Watch List

ELON, N.C. – It was announced on Wednesday, Oct. 18, that Elon University junior linebacker Warren Messer has been added to the STATS FCS Buck Buchanan Award Watch List. The award is presented annually to the top defensive player at the FCS level.

Messer, who hails from Garner, N.C., currently leads CAA Football and rates seventh nationally with 11.3 tackles per game. Through Elon’s first six games, Messer has posted 68 total tackles, including 4.0 for a loss and a pair of sacks. He has intercepted one pass and broken up three others, while forcing one fumble. Messer posted 10 or more tackles in each of Elon’s first five games this year, including a career-best 15 tackles in a league win at #6 Richmond. In the Phoenix’s victory over William & Mary, Messer had eight tackles, which included a sack for a safety.

Over the course of his career, Messer has amassed 179 total tackles, with 11.0 going for a loss and 5.5 sacks. He has two career interceptions and has forced and recovered two fumbles over 25 career outings.

The Buchanan Award, first awarded in 1995, has sent past winners such as Dexter Coakley, Rashean Mathis, Jared Allen, Arthur Moats and Kyle Emanuel on to the NFL. Northern Iowa defensive end Karter Schult was the 2016 recipient.

A national panel of over 150 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries will vote on 25 finalists following the regular season.

Messer and the 14th-ranked Phoenix will be back in action on Saturday, Oct. 21, as the maroon and gold travels to Rhode Island for a noon contest.