EASTON, Pa. -- Preseason recognition continues to roll in for Leopard senior co-captain Malik Hamm. The defensive lineman has been added to the Buck Buchanan Award Watch List. The honor comes just days after he was was selected to the Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America Team. 

It is familiar territory for Hamm who also was named to the Buck Buchanan Award watch list in 2021. The Buck Buchanan Award is presented annually by Stats Perform to the top defensive player in the FCS ranks. Hamm is one of three Patriot League selections on the initial list of 35, joining Fordham graduate LB Ryan Greenhagen and Holy Cross senior LB Jacob Dobbs. A national media panel will select the winner following the 2022 regular season.

Hamm was named the Patriot League Preseason Defensive Player of the Year for the second time in his career in late July. A Psychology major, Hamm is a four-time All-Patriot League selection who has secured All-Patriot League First-Team status each of the last three seasons.

In the 2021 fall season, he ranked second on the team in tackles (64) and tackles for loss (7.5) while leading the team with 14 quarterback hurries. In the 2021 spring campaign, he made five or more tackles in every game on his way to Stats Perform FCS All-America Second-Team honors and team MVP laurels.

Hamm garnered Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year status in 2019 while pacing the team with 11.5 tackles for loss, including 8.0 sacks, and 43 tackles. In 2018, he secured Patriot League Rookie of the Year honors after guiding the Leopards with 15 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks. He has started 35 of 37 games during his time on College Hill and ranks second in career sacks (23.5).

The Leopards, under first-year head coach John Troxell '94, report to camp on today and will open the season Sept. 3 at 12:30 p.m., hosting Sacred Heart.