• Complete Buck Buchanan Award Watch List
Tennessee Tech senior linebacker
Theron Gaines and Gardner-Webb senior defensive lineman
Robert Holtz are two of 30 finalists for the 2025 Buck Buchanan Award, presented by Stats Perform to the national defensive player of the year in Division I FCS college football.
The award, now in its 31st year, 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.
Gaines helped anchor a defense that ranked first nationally in defensive touchdowns (5), second in rushing defense (76.1 yards/game), team sacks (3.75/game) and team tackles for loss (8.6/game), seventh in total defense (292.6 yards/game) and 11th in scoring defense (17.7 points/game) as the Golden eagles finished 11-1 overall, 8-0 in the OVC-Big South and earned the No. 13 seed for the FCS Playoffs. Gaines led the team with 86 tackles (40 solo), 13.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks while also scoring a pair of defensive touchdowns, one on an interception and another on a fumble recovery. He had a pair of fumble recoveries on the season, a mark that ranked him 12th nationally, while also adding seven quarterback hurries and a pair of pass breakups. He had a season-high 11 tackles at Eastern Illinois (the game he recovered a fumble for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to secure the victory) and added 10 tackles the following week at FBS foe Kentucky.
Holtz finished the regular season by ranking 10th nationally in sacks (0.92/game) and 13th in tackles for loss (1.38/game). In 12 total games, he registered 53 tackles (23 solo) with 16.5 tackles for loss (for -66 yards), 11.0 sacks (for -59 yards), 11 quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles. He had a season-best 3.0 tackles for loss in three different games (all GWU victories), including a season-best 3.0 sacks (for -16 yards) in a victory over Southeast Missouri. He added a season-best nine tackles against UT Martin.
All 13 FCS conferences are represented by a finalist. The winner, to be selected by a national voting panel, will be announced at the Stats Perform FCS National Awards Banquet on January 3 in Nashville, Tennessee. In addition to the Buck Buchanan Award, the Walter Payton Award (FCS Offensive Player of the Year), Jerry Rice Award (FCS Freshman Player of the Year), Eddie Robinson Award (FCS Coach of the Year), HBCU Player of the Year and Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year will be presented at the awards banquet.
2025 Buck Buchanan Award Finalists
Defensive Linemen
Lando Brown, Southern Utah, R-Sr., 5-11, 215 (United Athletic Conference)
Robert Holtz, Gardner-Webb, Sr., 6-3, 255 (OVC-Big South Football Association)
Quincy Ivory, Jackson State, Sr., 6-3, 239 (Southwestern Athletic Conference)
Kaleb Proctor, Southeastern Louisiana, Sr., 6-3, 280 (Southland Conference)
Jacob Psyk, UC Davis, Grad, 6-3, 265 (Big Sky Conference)
Joshua Stoneking, Furman, R-So., 6-3, 264 (Southern Conference)
Andrew Zock, Mercer, So., 6-2, 250 (Southern Conference)
Linebackers
Sean Allison, Drake, Sr., 6-0, 235 (Pioneer Football League)
Luke Banbury, William & Mary, Grad, 6-2, 230 (CAA Football)
James Conway, Fordham, Grad, 6-2, 235 (Patriot League)
Theron Gaines, Tennessee Tech, Sr., 6-1, 237 (OVC-Big South Football Association)
Shane Hartzell, Villanova, Sr., 6-0, 230 (CAA Football)
David Hoage, West Georgia, Grad, 6-3, 250 (United Athletic Conference)
Erick Hunter, Morgan State, Sr., 6-4, 220 (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)
Logan Kopp, North Dakota State, R-Sr., 6-1, 221 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Rashon Myles Jr., Abilene Christian, Jr., 6-1, 220 (United Athletic Conference)
Tye Niekamp, Illinois State, Jr., 6-3, 240 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Tyler Ochojski, Lehigh, Sr., 6-2, 230 (Patriot League)
A.J. Pena, Rhode Island, Sr., 6-2, 243 (CAA Football)
Jaydon Southard, Stephen F. Austin, Sr., 6-1, 225 (Southland Conference)
Jack Stoll, Central Connecticut State. 6-0, 230 (NEC Football)
Defensive Backs
Ty Bartrum, Harvard, Sr., 6-1, 200 (Ivy League)
Kimal Clark, Indiana State, Sr., 5-10, 195 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Caden Dowler, Montana State, Jr., 6-0, 205 (Big Sky Conference)
Jalen Jones, William & Mary, Sr., 6-0, 195 (CAA Football)
Abu Kamara, Yale, Jr., 6-1, 208 (Ivy League)
Kasyus Kurns, Tarleton State, Sr., 5-10, 170 (United Athletic Conference)
Maximus Pulley, Wofford, 5th Year, 5-11, 200 (Southern Conference)
Nate Robinson Jr., Marist, So., 6-1, 200 (Pioneer Football League)
Jarod Washington, South Carolina State, Sr., 6-2, 188 (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)