NORMAL, Ill. – Two of Illinois State's best have earned a spot among the best defenders in the FCS, as juniors Tye Niekamp and Jake Anderson have been named to the Stats Perform 30-player preseason watch list for the 2025 Buck Buchanan Award, presented annually to the national defensive player of the year in Division I FCS college football.
The award, now 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 last year's winner David Walker of Central Arkansas. Illinois State linebacker Zeke Vandenburgh notably won the award in 2022, after several Redbirds including Boomer Grigsby, Brent Hawkins, Cameron Siskowic, Kye Stewart and Colton Underwood had been previous finalists for the honor.
A 2025 First-Team preseason All-America selection by Stats Perform, Niekamp heads into his junior season following a breakout freshman campaign in 2023 and a sophomore season that saw him earn FCS All-America honors from Stats Perform, Phil Steele, the AFCA, and The Associated Press in 2024. The Normal, Illinois, native was an All-MVFC First-Team selection at linebacker led the Redbirds and tied for first in the MVFC in tackles with 112 (50 solo) and had the league-lead in interceptions with four on the year. He also ranked sixth in the league in tackles-for-loss with 11.0 and added 3.0 sacks.
Anderson, who was tabbed a 2025 third-team preseason All-America selection by Stats Perform, had a breakout season in 2024 was named an All-MVFC Second Team selection on the defensive line. The Davis, Illinois, native ranked sixth on the team in tackles with 59 (21 solo) and was credited with 3.0 sacks, 6.5 tackles for loss, one pass breakup and one forced fumble last season. He recorded a half TFL or more in eight games, with a season-best 1.5 against Missouri State.
Niekamp and Anderson are among five players from the MVFC to be named to the Buchanan watch list. All 13 FCS conferences are represented on the list, which includes seven past finalists. More players can join the watch list before a national media panel selects the winner after the regular season from a group of finalists. This season's recipient will be announced at the Stats Perform National Awards Banquet on January 3, 2026, in Nashville, Tennessee.
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