CHICAGO, Aug. 1, 2019--North Carolina A&T State defensive back Franklin "Mac" McCain III was one of 25 Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) players named to the 2019 STATS FCS Walter Payton Award Watch List, it was announced on Thursday.
The list included at least one player from all 13 FCS conferences.
McCain has been named First Team All-MEAC in each of his first two seasons with the Aggies -- seasons in which the team won the MEAC championship and the Celebration Bowl to signify Black College Football's national champion. He has eight career interceptions, four of which he has returned for touchdowns.
A Preseason First Team All-MEAC selection heading into 2019, McCain returns after missing a portion of last season due to injury. His production is one reason the Aggies are among the best defensive teams in all of FCS -- ranking third nationally in total defense and fifth in scoring defense in 2018.
Two of McCain's eight career interceptions came last season, and the Aggies' 12 picks were tied for most in the MEAC.
First awarded in 1995, the Buchanan has sent past winners such as Dexter Coakley, Rashean Mathis, Jared Allen, Arthur Moats and Kyle Emanuel on to the NFL. Southeast Missouri linebacker Zach Hall returns to the list after winning the award as a junior last season.
More players can join the watch list during the 2019 season. A national panel of over 150 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries will select the winner following the regular season.
Also this season, STATS will present the Walter Payton Award (FCS Offensive Player of the Year), Jerry Rice Award (FCS Freshman Player of the Year), Eddie Robinson Award (FCS Coach of the Year) and Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year.