The Buck Buchanan Award honors the national defensive player of the year in FCS college football. This year’s preseason watch list reflects a deep, talented field of candidates heading toward the 2026 season.
Stats Perform has announced a 30-player preseason watch list for the 2026 Buck Buchanan Award, presented annually to the national defensive player of the year in Division I FCS college football.
The award, in its 32nd 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; Mercer’s Andrew Zock was the 2025 winner.
All 13 FCS conferences are represented on the watch list, which includes five past finalists (each designated by an asterisk).
2026 Buck Buchanan Award Preseason Watch List
Defensive Linemen
- Camden Byrd, Richmond, R-Sr., 6-3, 245 (Patriot League)
- Andrew Huff, Lamar, Sr., 6-2, 230 (Southland Conference)
- Mirko Jaksic, Dayton, R-Jr., 6-2, 284 (Pioneer Football League)
- Lance Rucker, North Dakota, Sr., 6-3, 230 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
- *Joshua Stoneking, Furman, R-Jr., 6-3, 258 (Southern Conference)
- Michael Wells, Youngstown State, Sr., 6-3, 250 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Linebackers
- Brodie Carroll, Elon, R-Jr., 6-1, 240 (CAA Football)
- Jake Dalmado, Southeastern Louisiana, Sr., 6-0, 215 (Southland Conference)
- Mikey D’Amato, Cal Poly, Sr., 6-0, 230 (Big Sky Conference)
- Rohan Davy, Rhode Island, Jr., 5-10, 205 (CAA Football)
- *Eli Ennis, Stephen F. Austin, R-Sr., 6-2, 220 (Southland Conference)
- Anthony Ferrelli, Stony Brook, R-Sr., 6-0, 225 (CAA Football)
- Jordan Franklin, South Carolina State, R-Jr., 6-2, 205 (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)
- Cullen McShane, South Dakota State, Jr., 6-2, 230 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
- *Tye Niekamp, Illinois State, Sr., 6-3, 240 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
- Kaden Smith, Eastern Kentucky, Jr., 6-2, 222 (United Athletic Conference)
- Peyton Wing, Montana, Sr., 6-0, 229 (Big Sky Conference)
- Steve Zayachkowsky, Charleston Southern, Sr., 5-10, 215 (Ohio Valley Conference)
Defensive Backs
- Rex Connors, UC Davis, Sr., 6-1, 220 (Big Sky Conference)
- *Caden Dowler, Montana State, Sr., 6-0, 205 (Big Sky Conference)
- Damien Henderson, Harvard, Sr., 6-0, 180 (Ivy League)
- Christopher Jean, Central Connecticut State, R-Jr., 5-10, 180 (NEC Football)
- Jaylon Jenkins, Eastern Washington, R-Jr., 6-1, 192 (Big Sky Conference)
- Jaeden Jones, Monmouth, Jr., 6-0, 190 (CAA Football)
- *Abu Kamara, Yale, Sr., 6-1, 208 (Ivy League)
- Ken Moore Jr., Western Carolina, R-Sr., 5-10, 160 (Southern Conference)
- Nick Peltekian, Lehigh, 5th Year, 6-0, 215 (Patriot League)
- Dylan Rowsey, Murray State, Sr., 6-1, 195 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
- Ta’Shaun Sims, Alabama State, Jr., 6-0, 188 (Southwestern Athletic Conference)
- Trey Watkins, LIU, R-Sr., 6-0, 184 (NEC Football)
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.
