Football | 7/30/2025 3:48:27 PM
The Buck Buchanan Award, presented annually to the national defensive player of the year in FCS college football, enters its 31st season in 2025. This year’s preseason watch list features 30 standout athletes representing all 13 FCS conferences, underscoring the depth of defensive talent heading into the season.
Two players from the MEAC earned spots on this prestigious list: Erick Hunter, a senior linebacker from Morgan State and 2023 Buchanan Award finalist, and Malcolm Reed, a senior defensive back from North Carolina Central. Hunter, recently named MEAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, and Reed both earned First-Team All-MEAC preseason honors.
Named in honor of Hall of Fame defensive lineman Junious “Buck” Buchanan, who starred at Grambling State, the award has recognized legendary defenders such as Dexter Coakley, Rashean Mathis, and Jared Allen. Central Arkansas’ David Walker captured last season’s award.
The 2025 Buck Buchanan Award winner will be announced during the Stats Perform National Awards Presentation on January 3, 2026, in Nashville, Tennessee.
The 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.