HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana junior quarterback Bryan Bennett is one of 33 Football Championship Series student-athletes that have been named to the College Football Performance Awards FCS National Performer of the Year Award List, CFPA announced recently.



Bennett, who was named to the CFPA Quarterback Award watch list last month, joined the Lions after spending his first two seasons at Oregon. The Encino, Calif. native saw action in 18 games for the Ducks. Bennett's placement on the two watch lists gives Southeastern a total of four, joining senior linebacker Cqulin Hubert (Butkus Award) and sophomore running back Xavier Roberson (CFPA FCS Kick Return List).



Bennett was efficient in the Lions' first scrimmage of fall camp last Saturday. He completed 9-of-11 passes for 255 yards and three touchdowns, while also rushing for 21 yards. The Lions will hold their second scrimmage on Saturday at 10 a.m. in Strawberry Stadium.



Bennett is one of five Southland Conference student-athletes on the CFPA FCS National Performer of the Year watch list. Joining the Lion quarterback is Sam Houston State quarterback Brian Bell, Central Arkansas quarterback Wynrick Smothers, Sam Houston State running back Tim Flanders and Stephen F. Austin running back Gus Johnson. In all, the Lions will compete against six players on the list in 2013, as running backs Fabian Truss of Samford and Zach Zenner of South Dakota State are also included.



More than 130 CFPA recipients have signed professional contracts, and twenty-one have been first-round NFL Draft selections. Past CFPA recipients include: Colin Kaepernick, Trent Richardson, Dez Bryant, Von Miller, Patrick Peterson, Earl Thomas, Blair Walsh, Dennis Pitta, and C.J. Spiller.



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.



Bennett and the Lions open the season on Aug. 29, hosting Southeast Missouri at 7 p.m. in Strawberry Stadium. Season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by contacting the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office at (985) 549-LION (5466) or by visiting LionSports.net.



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