Youngstown, Ohio - Youngstown State fifth year senior defensive end Michael Wells is among a group of 30 players who were named to the 2026 Buck Buchanan Award Preseason Watch List which was released on Tuesday. He is the first defensive player to be on the list for Youngstown State since Derek Rivers in 2016.

Wells, who earned multiple All-American honors, had an impressive 2025 season playing in all 13 games as a defensive end. Wells was credited with 50 tackles, 15 TFLs, and had 10.5 sacks with 11 QB hurries, four pass breakups, three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles. Having a monster game against Indiana State, recording 10 tackles (five solos, five assists), four TFLs and 3.5 sacks for 26 yards in losses has put Wells on the map this year for the Buck Buchanan Award.

Returning finalists are defensive linemen Joshua Stoneking of Furman, linebackers Eli Ennis of Stephen F. Austin, Tye Niekamp of Illinois State, defensive back Caden Dowler of Montana State and defensive back Abu Kamara of Yale.

Also named to the watch list are defensive linemen Andew Huff of Lamar, Mirko Jaksic of Dayton, Camden Byrd of Richmond, and Lance Rucker of North Dakota. Linebackers include Brodie Carroll of Elon, Jake Dalmado of Southeastern Louisiana, Mikey D'Amato of Cal Poly, Rohan Davy of Rhode Island, Anthony Ferrelli of Stoney Brook, Jordan Franklin of South Carolina State, Cullen McShane of South Dakota State, Kaden Smith of Eastern Kentucky, Petyon Wing of Montana, and Steve Zayachkowsky of Charleston Southern. Defensive backs include Rex Connors of UC Davis, Damien Henderson of Harvard, Christopher Jean of Central Connecticut, Jaylon Jenkins of Eastern Washington, Jaedon Jones of Monmouth, Ken Moore Jr. of Western Carolina, Nick Peltekian of Lehigh, Dylan Rowsey of Murray State, Ta'Shaun Sims of Alabama State, and Trey Watkins of LIU.

The breakdown by position for the preseason watch list: six defensive linemen, 12 linebackers and 12 defensive backs. Five of which are our own MVFC conference candidates.