CHARLOTTE, N.C.--North Dakota State University defensive ends Kyle Emanuel and Cole Jirik were two of 38 student-athletes named to the College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) FCS Defensive Lineman Watch List announced June 3 by executive director Brad Smith.

Emanuel, a 6-foot-3, 245-pound junior from Schuyler, Neb., and Jirik, a 6-4, 245-pound senior from Northfield, Minn., combined 25.5 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one sack during NDSU's 2012 national championship season.

Emanuel and Jirk are the fourth and fifth Bison players to earn a spot on the 2013 CFPA Watch Lists this spring, following quarterback Brock Jensen, running back Sam Ojuri and tight end Kevin Vaadeland. Two NDSU players have previously earned CFPA annual honors: 2010 CFPA Punter Award winner John Prelvitz and 2011 CFPA Defensive Back Award winner Marcus Williams.

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.

North Dakota State opens the 2013 season on Aug. 30 at Kansas State, televised nationally on Fox Sports 1.

2013 College Football Peformance Awards FCS Defensive Lineman Watch List
LeBrandon Richardson, Bethune-Cookman
Michael Yules, Brown
Jeff Covitz, Bryant
Sean Sellers, Bucknell
Jeremy Stephens, Butler
Sullivan Grosz, Cal Poly
Jonathan Woodard, Central Arkansas
Derrick Lott, Chattanooga
Davis Tull, Chattanooga
Derek Douglas, The Citadel
Pat Dowd, Dayton
Matt Acree, Drake
Brandon Coleman, Drake
Preston Pemasa, Gardner-Webb
Javon Mention, Georgia Southern
Zach Hodges, Harvard
Gary Acquah, Holy Cross
Damon Gresham-Chisholm, Howard
*Colton Underwood, Illinois State
Juan Pimienta, Jacksonville
Francis Bah, Liberty
Michael Cole, Maine
Terrence Fede, Marist
Everett Ellefsen, McNeese State
Zack Wagenmann, Montana
Brad Daly, Montana State
Christopher Robinson, Morgan State
Robert Simpson, MVSU
Tim Wilkinson, NAU
Kyle Emanuel, North Dakota State
Cole Jirik, North Dakota State
*Caraun Reid, Princeton
Blake Oliaro, San Diego
Doug Peete, South Dakota State
Darren Robinson, Stephen F. Austin
James Cowser, Southern Utah
Rakim Cox, Villanova
Antoine Lewis, Villanova
*--Returning CFPA recipient