The Buck Buchanan Award honors the national defensive player of the year in FCS college football. The 2025 preseason watch list reflects a deep, talented field of candidates.
Stats Perform has announced a 30-player preseason watch list for the 2025 Buck Buchanan Award, presented annually to the national defensive player of the year in Division I FCS college football.
The award, in its 31st season, is named for legendary defensive lineman Junious “Buck” Buchanan, who starred at Grambling State as part of his Hall of Fame career. Past Buchanan recipients include Dexter Coakley, Rashean Mathis and Jared Allen; Central Arkansas’ David Walker was last season’s winner.
All 13 FCS conferences are represented on the watch list, which includes seven past finalists. This season’s recipient will be announced at the Stats Perform National Awards Presentation on Jan. 3, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee.
2025 Buck Buchanan Award Preseason Watch List
Defensive Linemen
Jake Anderson, Illinois State, R-Jr., 6-5, 290 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Toby Anene, North Dakota State, Jr., 6-4, 260 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Paul Brott, Montana State, Sr., 6-3, 290 (Big Sky Conference)
Lando Brown, Southern Utah, R-Sr., 5-11, 215 (United Athletic Conference)
Kobe Clayborne, South Dakota State, Sr., 6-0, 275 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Jack Dunkley, Duquesne, Jr., 6-4, 250 (Northeast Conference)
Ckelby Givens, Southern, Sr., 6-2, 230 (Southwestern Athletic Conference) – 2024 Finalist
Rasheed Lovelace, Nicholls, R-Jr., 6-3, 310 (Southland Conference)
Matt Spatny, Lehigh, Sr., 6-2, 245 (Patriot League)
Andrew Zock, Mercer, So., 6-2, 250 (Southern Conference)
Linebackers
Sean Allison, Drake, Sr., 6-1, 230 (Pioneer Football League)
James Conway, Fordham, Grad, 6-2, 235 (Patriot League)
Shane Hartzell, Villanova, Sr., 6-0, 230 (CAA Football)
Erick Hunter, Morgan State, Sr., 6-4, 210 (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) – 2023 Finalist
Logan Kopp, North Dakota State, R-Sr., 6-1, 221 (Missouri Valley Football Conference) – 2023 Finalist
Tye Niekamp, Illinois State, Jr., 6-3, 240 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
A.J. Pena, Rhode Island, Sr., 6-2, 243 (CAA Football) – 2024 Finalist
Will Shaffer, Abilene Christian, Grad, 6-0, 224 (United Athletic Conference) – 2024 Finalist
Declan Williams, UIW, Sr., 6-2, 245 (Southland Conference)
Peyton Wing, Montana, Jr., 6-0, 230 (Big Sky Conference)
Defensive Backs
Ty Bartrum, Harvard, Sr., 6-1, 195 (Ivy League)
Rex Connors, UC Davis, Sr., 6-1, 210 (Big Sky Conference)
C.J. Coombes, Wofford, So., 6-0, 208 (Southern Conference)
Tim Coutras, Tennessee Tech, Grad, 6-0, 198 (OVC-Big South Football Association)
Jalen Jones, William & Mary, Sr., 6-0, 190 (CAA Football) – 2024 Finalist
Abu Kamara, Yale, Jr., 6-1, 208 (Ivy League) – 2024 Finalist
JaMichael McGoy Jr., UT Martin, R-Sr., 5-10, 170 (OVC-Big South Football Association)
Tyler Morton, UIW, R-Sr., 5-10, 170 (Southland Conference)
Nahil Perkins, Samford, Grad, 6-0, 178 (Southern Conference)
Malcolm Reed, North Carolina Central, Sr., 6-3, 180 (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)
The Buck Buchanan Award was first presented in 1995. More players can join the watch list before a national media panel selects the winner after the regular season from a group of finalists.
Also this season, the Walter Payton Award (FCS Offensive Player of the Year), Jerry Rice Award (FCS Freshman Player of the Year), Eddie Robinson Award (FCS Coach of the Year), HBCU National Player of the Year and Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year will be handed out at the Stats Perform FCS National Awards Presentation.
For more FCS football coverage, follow on social media at X, Facebook, Instagram and Bluesky.
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