University of Montana junior cornerback Trumaine Johnson was one of three Big Sky Conference football players named to the first Buck Buchanan Award watch list The Sports Network announced Monday.

The Buchanan is awarded to the top defensive player in the NCAA’s Football Championship Subdivision.

The Big Sky’s contingent is led by Eastern Washington linebacker J.C. Sherritt, who finished second in the Buchanan race in 2009.

The 5-foot-10, 220-pound senior linebacker from Pullman, Wash., led the nation in tackles last season with 170. He earned 17 first-place votes and 17 second-place votes in last year’s voting, finishing with 232 points.

James Madison’s Arthur Moats won the award in 2009.

Sherritt garnered all-America honors and a first team All-Conference pick. He was named the Big Sky Conference preseason defensive player of the year on Monday.

Johnson and Sacramento State defensive lineman Christian Clark were also selected to the 20-player list.

Clark, a 6-2, 270-pound senior from Los Angeles, Calif., was a second-team all-conference pick in 2009. He led the Big Sky with 10 sacks and amassed 14.5 tackles for loss.

Johnson, a 6-3, 197-pound junior from Stockton, Calif., garnered first team all-conference honors in 2009 after intercepting five passes and breaking up 12 passes.

All three players were selected to the preseason all-conference team, which was announced on Monday.

Big Sky players have won three Buchanan Awards. Current NFL All-Pro Jared Allen won the honor in 2003 for Idaho State. Current Atlanta Falcon Kroy Biermann won the honor in 2007 with Montana. Greg Peach, who played for Eastern Washington and is now in the CFL with the Edmonton Eskimos, won the honor in 2008.

The 2010 winner will be announced on the eve of the FCS national championship game in Frisco, Texas.

Buck Buchanan Watch List (July 19)
Christian Anthony, DE, Grambling
Jeremy Caldwell, CB, Eastern Kentucky
Christian Clark, DL, Sacramento State
Kenrick Ellis, DT, Hampton
Jabari Fletcher, DE, Appalachian State
Jason House, FS, Southern
Trumaine Johnson, CB, Montana
Mark LeGree, FS, Appalachian State
Korey Lindsey, CB, Southern Illinois
Eric McBride, LB, Richmond
Mike McElroy, S, Southern Illinois
Martin Parker, DT, Richmond
Justin Rogers, CB, Richmond
J.C. Sherritt, LB, Eastern Washington
Bryce Smith, LB, Samford
D.J. Smithk, LB, Appalachian State
Malcom Taylor, DE, Alcorn State
Terence Thomas, LB, Villanova
James Vercammen, SS, Dayton
Jabara Williams, LB, Stephen F. Austin