The Buck Buchanan Award is given each year to the most outstanding defensive player in FCS football. Mercer defensive end Andrew Zock won the 2025 award two days before the FCS championship game.
Here’s everything you need to know about the annual honor, presented by Stats Perform FCS.
MORE: Walter Payton Award history | Jerry Rice Award history
FCS Buck Buchanan Award: What is it and who is it named after?
The Buck Buchanan Award debuted in 1995 to honor the most outstanding defensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision.
A national panel of more than 150 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries vote on the award’s winner, based on players’ regular-season performances. Voting is conducted before the start of FCS playoffs.
The Buck Buchanan Award is one of five national awards announced by STATS FCS:
Walter Payton Award (FCS offensive player of the year)
Buck Buchanan Award (FCS defensive player of the year)
Jerry Rice Award (FCS freshman of the year)
Eddie Robinson Award (FCS coach of the year)
Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year
The defensive player of the year award’s namesake, Junious “Buck” Buchanan, was an AFL and NFL legend with the Dallas Texans and Kansas City Chiefs, earning eight-straight AFL All-Star and NFL Pro Bowl trips, two AFL Championships, and a Super Bowl IV ring. The 1963 first-overall pick began his journey at FCS program Grambling State from 1959-1962.
Buchanan, an All-American defensive tackle, measured in at 6’7’’ and 280 pounds. After joining Grambling State on an “if” scholarship, Buchanan quickly became one of the best players in Grambling State history. He is a member of both the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio and the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia.
Southeast Mo. State Athletics
Southeast Missouri State LB Zach Hall won the 2018 Buck Buchanan Award
FCS Buck Buchanan Award: When is the winner announced?
The Buck Buchanan Award winner is revealed annually at the STATS FCS Awards Banquet and Presentation the night before the FCS championship game. The 2025 recipient was announced Saturday, Jan. 3, in a broadcasted show.
All six STATS FCS national honors are celebrated at the banquet, though the Jerry Rice, Eddie Robinson, HBCU National Player of the Year and Doris Robinson winners are all announced ahead of time. The Payton and Buchanan award winners are revealed for the first time as part of the ceremony.
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The first 35-man Buck Buchanan Award watch list is released in the preseason by STATS FCS. The list has updated periodically throughout the regular season, culminating in the invitation of finalists to attend the banquet.
FCS Buck Buchanan Award: Complete history of past recipients
Mercer defensive end Andrew Zock won the 2025 Buck Buchanan Award as the best defensive player in FCS football, beating out fellow top-three finalists James Conway (Fordham) and Joshua Stoneking (Furman). Zock is the first Mercer player to win the award in its 29-year history. In 12 regular season games, the Bear defensive end made 46 tackles (24 solo), 20.0 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and 23 quarterback hurries.
Linebackers and defensive ends have accounted for a position-best 15 winners each since the award debuted in 1995. One defensive tackle and one cornerback have also been honored. Cal Poly and Montana lead all schools with three winners apiece.
Only one player has lifted the hardware in consecutive years: Appalachian State standout linebacker Dexter Coakley won in 1995 and ’96, the first two seasons of the award’s history.
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Other notable past honorees include eventual NFL stars Jared Allen (Idaho State, 2003) and Rashean Mathis (Bethune-Cookman, 2002). See the full list below.
FCS Buck Buchanan Award winners (1995-2025):
YEAR
WINNER, SCHOOL
POSITION
2025
Andrew Zock, Mercer
Defensive End
Top moments
2024
David Walker, Central Arkansas
Defensive End
Top moments
2023
Terrell Allen, Tennessee State
Defensive End
Top moments
2022
Zeke Vandenburg, Illinois State
Linebacker
Top moments
2021
Isaiah Land, Florida A&M
Linebacker
Top plays
2020
Jordan Lewis, Southern
Defensive End
2019
Dante Olson, Montana
Linebacker
2018
Zach Hall, Southeast Missouri State
Linebacker
2017
Darius Jackson, Jacksonville State
Defensive End
2016
Karter Schult, Northern Iowa
Defensive End
2015*
Tyrone Holmes, Montana
Linebacker
2015
Deon King, Norfolk State
Linebacker
2014
Kyle Emanuel, North Dakota State
Defensive End
2013
Brad Daly, Montana State
Defensive End
2012
Caleb Schreibeis, Montana State
Defensive End
2011
Matt Evans, New Hampshire
Linebacker
2010
J.C. Sherritt, Eastern Washington
Linebacker
2009
Arthur Moats, James Madison
Defensive End
2008
Greg Peach, Eastern Washington
Defensive End
2007
Kroy Biermann, Montana
Defensive End
2006
Kyle Shotwell, Cal Poly
Linebacker
2005
Chris Gocong, Cal Poly
Defensive End
2004
Jordan Beck, Cal Poly
Linebacker
2003
Jared Allen, Idaho State
Defensive End
2002
Rashean Mathis, Bethune-Cookman
Cornerback
2001
Derrick Lloyd, James Madison
Linebacker
2000
Edgerton Hartwell, Western Illinois
Linebacker
1999
Al Lucas, Troy State
Defensive Tackle
1998
James Milton, Western Illinois
Linebacker
1997
Chris McNeil, North Carolina A&T
Defensive End
1996
Dexter Coakley, Appalachian State
Linebacker
1995
Dexter Coakley, Appalachian State
Linebacker
*-Stats Perform FCS Defensive Player of the Year