BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Samford junior defensive lineman Ahmad Gooden has been added to the watch list for the STATS FCS Buck Buchanan Award, which goes to the top defensive player in all of FCS football, STATS announced Wednesday morning.

He joins The Citadel's Kailik Williams, who was a preseason selection, among Southern Conference representatives on the watch list.

Entering this weekend, Gooden leads the Southern Conference in tackles for loss with 10.5 so far this season. He also ranks third in the league in sacks with 4.5, and he is tied for fourth in the league in tackles per game, averaging 9.2 stops per contest.

Gooden has had double-digit tackles in three of Samford's six games and has had at least eight tackles in five of the six contests. He tallied 15 tackles, three for loss, at Western Carolina. He had 12 tackles against The Citadel and 10 in the season-opener against Kennesaw State.

For his career, Gooden has accumulated 178 total tackles, including 77 solo stops. He also has 33.0 tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

The Buchanan Award has been handed out every year since 1995. A national panel of over 150 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries will vote on 25 finalists following the regular season.

Gooden and the 14th-ranked Bulldogs (4-2, 2-1 SoCon) will play at fifth-ranked Wofford on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. (CT).