Football

Trio of Big South-OVC Defensive Linemen Named Finalists for Buck Buchanan Award


• Buck Buchanan Award Release

A trio of Big South-OVC players are among 30 finalists nationally for the Buck Buchanan Award, presented by FedEx Ground and awarded by Stats Perform to the FCS National Defensive Player of the Year.

The players are Tennessee State senior defensive lineman Terrell Allen, UT Martin junior defensive lineman Daylan Dotson, Gardner-Webb senior defensive lineman Ty French. The Big South-OVC was the only conference to have three defensive lineman among the finalists (which also included linebackers and defensive backs).

The Buchanan Award, first presented in 1995 and in its 29th season, is named for legendary defensive lineman Junious “Buck” Buchanan, who starred at Grambling State as part of his Hall of Fame career. Past recipients include Dexter Coakley, Rashean Mathis, Jared Allen and Arthur Moats.

Allen led the FCS in sacks (1.32/game) and tackles for loss (2.5/game) during the regular season and ranked second nationally in forced fumbles (0.45/game).  Overall the senior tallied 28.0 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks in 11 games while also adding 65 tackles (44 solo), 10 quarterback hurries, a pass breakup and a fumble recovery. He led Tennessee State to its first winning season since 2017 and keyed a defense that was second in the Association in total defense (333.82 yards allowed per game) and third in scoring defense (24.7 points allowed per game).

Dotson became a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award after earning a spot on the preseason watch list. He lived up to his preseason billing by tallying 51 total tackles and adding 19.5 tackles for loss which ranked fourth nationally while accumulating 82 yards of loss. Along with his work in the defensive backfield, he also registered 7.0 sacks, 17 quarterback hurries, seven pass breakups, a forced fumble and a recovery. 

This season, French set a new school record for career sacks (30.5) and tackles for loss (58). His 17.5 tackles-for-loss this season are tied with Jason Burns (1990) for the eighth-most in a single season and are the 10th most in the FCS. French has also forced three fumbles this season, the seventh most in the FCS. He also added 53 tackles (31 solo), five pass breakups and 17 quarterback hurries.

A national media panel will select the winner, which will be announced at the FCS National Awards banquet on Jan. 6 in Frisco, Texas – on the eve of the national championship game.


Buck Buchanan Award Finalists
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
Terrell Allen, Tennessee State, Sr., 6-0, 275 (Big South-OVC Football Association)
Finn Claypool, Drake, R-So., 6-1, 232 (Pioneer Football League)
Daylan Dotson, UT Martin, Jr., 6-3, 255 (Big South-OVC Football Association)
Ty French, Gardner-Webb, Sr., 6-3, 230 (Big South-OVC Football Association)
Brody Grebe, Montana State, Jr., 6-2, 248 (Big Sky Conference)
Thor Griffith, Harvard, Sr., 6-2, 320 (Ivy League)
Anton Juncaj, UAlbany, Sr., 6-3, 273 (CAA Football)
Nate Lynn, William & Mary, Sr., 6-3, 255 (CAA Football)
Eric O’Neill, LIU, So., 6-3, 250 (Northeast Conference)
Steven Parker, UIW, Jr., 6-4, 265 (Southland Conference)
Jay Person, Chattanooga, Sr., 6-3, 233 (Southern Conference)
David Walker, Central Arkansas, Jr., 6-3, 260 (United Athletic Conference)

LINEBACKERS
Amir Abdullah, Illinois State, Jr., 6-3, 215 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Colton Adams, Alabama State, R-So., 6-1, 244 (Southwestern Athletic Conference)
Logan Blake, Eastern Kentucky, Grad, 6-2, 240 (United Athletic Conference)
Micah Davey, McNeese, R-So., 6-2, 239 (Southland Conference)
Jacob Dobbs, Holy Cross, 5th Year, 6-0, 237 (Patriot League)
Braxton Hill, Montana, Sr., 6-2, 225 (Big Sky Conference)
Jalyx Hunt, Houston Christian, Sr., 6-4, 248 (Southland Conference)
Erick Hunter, Morgan State, Jr., 6-4, 210 (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)
Dylan Kelly, UAlbany, Sr., 6-2, 224 (CAA Football)
Logan Kopp, North Dakota State, So., 6-1, 222 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Isaiah Major, Florida A&M, Sr., 6-1, 230 (Southwestern Athletic Conference)
Brock Mogensen, South Dakota, Sr., 62, 235 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Winston Reid, Weber State, Sr., 6-1, 230 (Big Sky Conference)
Billy Shaeffer, Lafayette, Sr., 6-3, 232 (Patriot League)
Tristan Wheeler, Richmond, R-Sr., 6-2, 228 (CAA Football)

DEFENSIVE BACKS
Kenny Gallop Jr., Howard, Sr., 6-1, 214 (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)
PJ Jules, Southern Illinois, Sr., 6-1, 209 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Lance Wise Jr., Mercer, Sr., 5-9, 195 (Southern Conference)