ITTA BENA -- Mississippi Valley State senior safety Kevin Eugene has been named one of the top returning defensive backs in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).Â
The Miami, Fla. native has been named to the watch list for the 2013 College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) Defensive Back Award. The preliminary watch list highlights 36 returning performers, vying for the top individual defensive back award in the FCS.Â
"Eugene is a defensive force in the passing game, and he was one of the top players to watch in the SWAC in 2013," said CFPA Executive Director Brad Smith.Â
Last seson, in his first year at MVSU after transferring from Fond Du Lac Tribal & Community College in Minnesota, Eugene racked up 38 tackles, four interceptions (2nd in the SWAC), four pass breakups and two touchdowns -- one on an interception and another on a 100-yard fumble return against Texas Southern.Â
All CFPA recipients are selected exclusively based upon objective scientific rankings of the extent to which individual players increase the overall effectiveness of their teams. All players are eligible for awards at their respective positions; players are not preemptively eliminated from consideration.
More than 130 CFPA recipients have signed professional contracts, and twenty-one have been first-round NFL Draft selections. CFPA recipients performing as NFL defensive backs include: Earl Thomas (Texas), Patrick Peterson (LSU), Mark Barron (Alabama), David Amerson (North Carolina State), Jayron Hosley (Virginia Tech), Phillip Thomas (Fresno State), Tyrann Mathieu (LSU), Cliff Harris (Oregon), Javier Arenas (Alabama), Trumaine Johnson (Montana), Asa Jackson (Cal Poly), Laron Scott (Georgia Southern), Anthony Walters (Delaware), DeAndre Presley (Appalachian State), Justin Bethel (Presbyterian), Korey Lindsey (Southern Illinois), Mark LeGree, (Appalachian State), and Ryan Steed (Furman).
Last season, Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel earned the 2012 CFPA National Performer of the Year Trophy, while Harvard quarterback Colton Chapple earned the 2012 CFPA FCS National Performer of the Year Trophy. Multiple award presentations were broadcast live nationally on ESPN, CBS, Fox Sports, Big Ten Network, Pac 12 Network, as well as internationally on BYUtv.
The full list of 2013 recipients, including the 2013 CFPA FCS Awards, will be announced on January 8, 2014.
