NORMAL, Ill. — Illinois State senior linebacker Zeke Vandenburgh is putting together the best season of his career, and his statistics have earned him a spot on the 2022 Buck Buchanan Award watch list, which was updated Thursday by Stats Perform. The Buck Buchanan Award is presented annually to the national defensive player of the year in college football's Division I subdivision.
Through six games, Vandenburgh leads Redbirds in tackles (57), sacks (7.5) and tackles-for-loss (12). The Freeport, Illinois, native currently ranks No. 2 in the FCS in sacks per game (1.25) and tackles-for-loss per game (2.0) and is in the top 25 of all tacklers in the FCS at No. 23 with 9.5 per contest. His 7.5 sacks and 12 tackles-for-loss are also tops in the highly competitive Missouri Valley Football Conference, which now features eight players on the Buchanan Watch List.
Three times this season, Vandenburgh has been named the MVFC Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts. His best performance of the season came against in-state rival Eastern Illinois, when he led the team with 12 tackles, recorded a career-best three sacks, tied a career-high with 3.0 tackles-for-loss and added a forced fumble in the victory over the Panthers. Â
More players can join the watch list during the regular season, and afterwards a national media panel will select the winner. First awarded in 1995, the Buchanan includes past recipients such as Dexter Coakley, Rashean Mathis, Jared Allen and Arthur Moats. Also this season, Stats Perform will present 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) and FedEx Ground Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
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