On Monday, 18 finalists for the FCS Stats Perform Buck Buchanan Award were revealed. The award is presented to the National Defensive Player of the Year in the FCS Spring Football season. This will be the 26th time the award, named after the legendary defensive end, will be handed out. The Buck Buchanan Award winner will be announced on May 15th.
A 40-member national media panel will select the winner from this 2021 FCS football season. Past winners include Jared Allen, Arthur Moats and Kyle Emmanuel.
Check out the finalists below!
Buck Buchanan Award Finalists | FCS Football
| Name, Position | School | Stats |
| Bryson Armstrong, LB | Kennesaw State | 30 Tackles, 5.5 TFL, 1.5 Sacks, 75-yard INT returned for a TD |
| Jared Brinkman, NT | Northern Iowa | 38 Tackles, 9 TFL, 3.5 Sacks, 2 Forced Fumbles, 1 Fumble Recovery, 3 QB-Hits |
| Colby Campbell, LB | Presbyterian | 96 Tackles, 7 TFL, 1 Sack, 1 Forced Fumble, 1 QB-Hit, 2 Passes Defended |
| Isaiah Chambers, DE | McNeese State | 32 Tackles, 14 TFL, 7.5 Sacks, 11 QB-Hits, 2 Passes Defended |
| Chris Edmonds, DB | Samford | 40 Tackles, 2.5 TFL, 2 Forced Fumbles, 1 Fumble Recovery, 4 INTs (1 TD), 1 Pass Defended |
| Mike Greene, DL | James Madison | 15 Tackles, 8 TFL, 2.5 Sacks, 2 QB-Hits, 2 Passes Defended |
| Ryan Greenhagen, LB | Fordham | 22 Tackles, 2 TFL, 1 Sack, 1 Pass Defended |
| Nicario Harper, S | Jacksonville State | 79 Tackles, 1.5 TFL, 3 INTs, 3 Passes Defended, 1 Fumble Return TD, 1 QB-Hit |
| Kordell Jackson, DB | Austin Peay | 54 Tackles, 9 TFL, 1.5 Sacks, 1 INT, 5 Passes Defended, 1 Fumble Recovery, 4 QB-Hits, 1 Blocked Kick |
| Storey Jackson, LB | Prairie View A&M | 50 Tackles, 8.5 TFL, 2 Sacks, 2 Forced Fumbles, 1 Fumble Recovery, 1 INT |
| La’akea Kaho’ohanohano-Davis, LB | Southern Utah | 57 Tackles, 9 TFL, 7 Sacks, 2 Forced Fumbles, 3 QB-Hits, 2 Passes Defended |
| Jahari Kay, DE | Sam Houston State | 22 Tackles, 8 TFL, 5.5 Sacks, 4 Forced Fumbles, 1 Fumble Recovery, 1 INT, 3 QB-Hits |
| Titus Leo, LB | Wagner | 15 Tackles, 4 TFL, 2 Sacks, 2 Forced Fumbles |
| Jordan Lewis, DE | Southern | 27 Tackles, 15 TFL, 10.5 Sacks, 1 Forced Fumble |
| Robert Rochell, CB | Central Arkansas | 27 Tackles, 1 TFL, 1 Forced Fumble, 1 Fumble Recovery, 3 Passes Defended (Played In 2021 Senior Bowl) |
| Stone Snyder, LB | VMI | 76 Tackles, 9.5 TFL, 8 Sacks, 4 QB-Hits |
| Tre Walker, LB | Idaho | 54 Tackles, 4.5 TFL, 2 Sacks, 1 Forced Fumble, 1 QB-Hit, 1 Pass Defended |
| Tristan Wheeler, LB | Richmond | 38 Tackles, 2.5 TFL |
Other FCS Football Awards Given Out
Walter Payton Award: Given to the best offensive player during the 2021 FCS Spring Football season.
Jerry Rice Award: This award is given to the FCS football Freshman of the Year.
Eddie Robinson Award: Coach of the Year award in the FCS.
Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year: This Award will be given out for the fifth time to an FCS football student-athlete who excels not only on the field and in the classroom, but the community as well.
