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 .
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 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 |
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