Niekamp Named A Finalist For the Stats Perform Buck Buchanan Award

NORMAL, Ill. – Following another stellar season at middle linebacker for Illinois State, junior captain Tye Niekamp has been named as one of 30 finalists for the 2025 Buck Buchanan Award, which is presented to the national defensive player of the year in Division I FCS college football by Stats Perform.

The award, in its 31st season, is named for legendary defensive lineman Junious "Buck" Buchanan, who starred at Grambling State as part of his Hall of Fame career. Past Buchanan recipients include Dexter Coakley, Rashean Mathis, Jared Allen, and Illinois State's own Zeke Vandenburgh in 2022. Niekamp is ISU's eighth finalist for the award, joining College Football Hall of Famer Boomer Grigsby (2002-04), Brent Hawkins (2005), Cameron Siskowic (2005-06), Kye Stewart (2007), Colton Underwood (2012-13), Vandenburgh (2022) and Amir Abdullah (2023).

Niekamp started all 12 games at middle linebacker for the Redbirds in 2025 and ranked third in the Missouri Valley Football Conference in tackles with 126 (63 solo). The Normal Community High School product ranked second in the league in tackles-for-loss with 12.0, added one sack and was credited with six pass breakups, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, four quarterback hurries and a safety on the year. A three-time MVFC Defensive Player of the Week selection in 2025, Niekamp had seven double-digit tackling efforts, including five games with 13 or more, and finished the year with back-to-back 16 tackle efforts against South Dakota State and Southern Illinois. In addition to his 16 tackles, he also recorded a career-high 3.0 tackles-for-loss in the finale against the Salukis. 

All 13 FCS conferences were represented by a finalist. The winner, to be selected by a national voting panel, will be announced at the Stats Perform FCS National Awards Show on Jan. 3 in Nashville, Tennessee, prior to the FCS Championship game.

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