Welcome to the 2022 FCS Jersey Countdown.
Leading up to Week 0 games on Aug. 27, HERO Sports will name the best returning FCS player by jersey number, 99-0. Due to rosters being updated at different times for teams across the country and to keep things consistent, jersey numbers are based on last season’s rosters.
The 99-0 countdown central page can be found here.
Note: Jersey numbers are based on 2021 rosters.
95: Will Buck, DL (Jr.) — San Diego
San Diego takes a lot of pride in its play in the trenches, especially defensively. The Toreros have owned a top defense in the Pioneer Football League as they’ve won conference titles in 2011, 2012, 2014-19 (winning a couple of first-round playoff games during that stretch), and a share of the championship last season.
Last year’s defense ranked No. 23 in the FCS in defending the run, allowing 120.8 yards per game. Manning the middle of that unit was 6-foot, 285-pound Will Buck.
Buck has incredible strength in the weight room and on the football field. He bench presses 225 pounds 28 times (which would have been the sixth most out of all the positions at this year’s NFL Combine), and his max is over 400 pounds. His strength also shows in games by owning the point of attack. But he’s not just a plugger taking on double teams. Buck is a disruptive and productive player.
Last year, he totaled 39 tackles, 15 TFLs, 10 sacks, and six QB hurries in 11 games.
Buck was named on the All-PFL First Team and earned HERO Sports Sophomore All-American honors.
He’ll be one of the best defensive players in the conference in 2022 as USD eyes a return to the playoffs after missing the auto-bid last season. The Toreros and Davidson finished 7-1 in the league standings, but Davidson had the head-to-head for the postseason AQ.
