As a Stats Perform FCS Top 25 media poll voter and national awards voter, I believe it’s important to be transparent about my voting and reasoning.
I’ll publish my weekly Top 25 ballot every Sunday or Monday, and I’ll also provide a midseason update on who I have my eye on for major awards like the Walter Payton Award (FCS Offensive Player of the Year) and the Buck Buchanan Award (FCS Defensive Player of the Year).
RELATED: Walter Payton Award Preseason Favorites
Here are my preseason favorites for the Buck Buchanan Award. These are players I’m projecting to be top finalists by the end of the season.
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2026 Buck Buchanan Award Favorites
5. Yale S Abu Kamara
Kamara is an elite safety who got his chance to shine in the postseason last year. In the two playoff games, Kamara had 11 total tackles, tallied three pass breakups at Youngstown State, and had two forced fumbles and two pass breakups at Montana State. In 12 total games, he recorded 76 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, two interceptions, and 13 pass breakups. Kamara was named to the All-Ivy League First Team and was the Ivy League’s Defensive Player of the Year. He also earned a spot on a few All-American teams.
4. Montana State S Caden Dowler
Dowler made a name for himself last year, overcoming injuries earlier in his career to put together a standout season for the national champs. He made his presence felt against the run and the pass, totaling 91 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, two forced fumbles, four pass breakups, and six interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns. The postseason accolades were aplenty: All-Big Sky First Team, Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year, multiple All-American First Teams, and No. 4 in Buck Buchanan Award voting.
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3. North Dakota DE Lance Rucker
Rucker had a breakout season last fall, earning First Team All-MVFC honors and multiple All-American accolades. His next-level abilities made it a top-tier retention for UND to keep him in Grand Forks. Rucker racked up 64 tackles, 15 TFLs, 11.5 sacks, eight QB hurries, and four forced fumbles. He was at his best in some of the biggest games, including two sacks at Montana, two at South Dakota, three at Tennessee Tech in a first-round win, and another sack at Tarleton State in the second round.
2. Furman DE Joshua Stoneking
Stoneking was a dominant force last season, splashing onto the scene as just a third-year sophomore. He notched 79 tackles, 23 TFLs, 14.5 sacks, nine QB hurries, and two forced fumbles while grading out as the No. 6 FCS edge defender on PFF. The First Team All-SoCon selection also received numerous First Team All-American honors. Stoneking was named the FCS ADA National Defensive Player of the Year while finishing No. 2 in Buck Buchanan Award voting. He nearly won the Buck, trailing Mercer DE Andrew Zock by just 14 voting points.
RELATED: 2026 FCS Preseason Preview Central
1. Illinois State LB Tye Niekamp
Niekamp has had an illustrious career and eyes a fourth straight All-MVFC season. He has 346 career tackles, 36 TFLs, and several All-American honors. In 2023, he had 74 tackles, nine tackles for loss, and seven pass breakups. Niekamp was named an FCS Freshman All-American, the MVFC Freshman of the Year, All-MVFC Second Team, MVFC All-Newcomer Team, and finished fourth in the Jerry Rice Award voting. In 2024, he tallied 112 tackles, 11 TFLs, three sacks, four interceptions, and eight pass breakups. He earned multiple All-American accolades along with All-MVFC First Team honors. Last season saw many more All-American nods come his way. Niekamp was making plays all over the field, leading the FCS with 160 tackles (9.4 per game), including 16 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, four QB hurries, one interception, and nine pass breakups. He earned another spot on the All-MVFC First Team while being named the MVFC Defensive Player of the Year and finishing No. 8 in Buck Buchanan Award voting.
