Stan Becton | NCAA.com | January 29, 2022 Buck Buchanan Award: Complete history of the FCS defensive honor North Dakota State's football dynasty Share The Buck Buchanan Award is given each year to the most outstanding defensive player in FCS football. Florida A&M linebacker Isaiah Land won the 2021 award on the day before the FCS championship game. Here's everything you need to know about the annual honor, presented by Stats Perform FCS. MORE: Walter Payton Award history | Jerry Rice Award history FCS Buck Buchanan Award: What is it and who is it named after? The Buck Buchanan Award debuted in 1995 to honor the most outstanding defensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision. A national panel of more than 150 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries vote on the award's winner, based on players' regular-season performances. Voting is conducted before the start of FCS playoffs. The Buck Buchanan Award is one of five national awards announced by STATS FCS: Walter Payton Award (FCS offensive player of the year) Buck Buchanan Award (FCS defensive player of the year) Jerry Rice Award (FCS freshman of the year) Eddie Robinson Award (FCS coach of the year) Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year The defensive player of the year award's namesake, Junious “Buck” Buchanan, was an AFL and NFL legend with the Dallas Texans and Kansas City Chiefs, earning eight-straight AFL All-Star and NFL Pro Bowl trips, two AFL Championships, and a Super Bowl IV ring. The 1963 first-overall pick began his journey at FCS program Grambling State from 1959-1962. Buchanan, an All-American defensive tackle, measured in at 6’7’’ and 280 pounds. After joining Grambling State on an “if” scholarship, Buchanan quickly became one of the best players in Grambling State history. He is a member of both the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio and the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia. Southeast Mo. State Athletics Southeast Missouri State LB Zach Hall won the 2018 Buck Buchanan Award FCS Buck Buchanan Award: When is the winner announced? The Buck Buchanan Award winner is revealed annually at the STATS FCS Awards Banquet and Presentation the night before the FCS championship game in Frisco, Texas. The 2021 recipient was announced Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, in a broadcast show. All five STATS FCS national honors are celebrated at the banquet, though the Jerry Rice, Eddie Robinson and Doris Robinson winners are all announced ahead of time. The Payton and Buchanan award winners are revealed for the first time as part of the ceremony. FCS HISTORY: The 9 all-time winningest FCS programs | 7 of the most unbreakable FCS records The first 35-man Buck Buchanan Award watch list is released in the preseason by STATS FCS. The list has updated periodically throughout the regular season, culminating in the invitation of finalists to attend the banquet. FCS Buck Buchanan Award: Complete history of past recipients Florida A&M linebacker Isaiah Land is the 27th recipient of the Buck Buchanan Award after beating out fellow finalists Troy Andersen (Montana State) and Patrick O'Connell (Montana). Land led the FCS in sacks (19), tackles for loss (25.5) and sacks per game (1.58). Linebackers have accounted for a position-best 14 winners since the award debuted in 1995. 11 defensive ends, one defensive tackles, and one cornerback have also been honored. Cal Poly and Montana lead all schools with three winners apiece. Only one player has lifted the hardware in consecutive years: Appalachian State standout linebacker Dexter Coakley won in 1995 and '96, the first two seasons of the award’s history. FCS CHAMPIONSHIP: How the FCS playoffs work | Schools with most titles | Full championship history Other notable past honorees include eventual NFL stars Jared Allen (Idaho State, 2003) and Rashean Mathis (Bethune-Cookman, 2002). See the full list below. FCS Buck Buchanan Award winners (1995-2021): YEAR WINNER, SCHOOL POSITION 2021 Isaiah Land, Florida A&M Linebacker 2020 Jordan Lewis, Southern Defensive End 2019 Dante Olson, Montana Linebacker 2018 Zach Hall, Southeast Missouri State Linebacker 2017 Darius Jackson, Jacksonville State Defensive End 2016 Karter Schult, Northern Iowa Defensive End 2015* Tyrone Holmes, Montana Linebacker 2015 Deon King, Norfolk State Linebacker 2014 Kyle Emanuel, North Dakota State Defensive End 2013 Brad Daly, Montana State Defensive End 2012 Caleb Schreibeis, Montana State Defensive End 2011 Matt Evans, New Hampshire Linebacker 2010 J.C. Sherritt, Eastern Washington Linebacker 2009 Arthur Moats, James Madison Defensive End 2008 Greg Peach, Eastern Washington Defensive End 2007 Kroy Biermann, Montana Defensive End 2006 Kyle Shotwell, Cal Poly Linebacker 2005 Chris Gocong, Cal Poly Defensive End 2004 Jordan Beck, Cal Poly Linebacker 2003 Jared Allen, Idaho State Defensive End 2002 Rashean Mathis, Bethune-Cookman Cornerback 2001 Derrick Lloyd, James Madison Linebacker 2000 Edgerton Hartwell, Western Illinois Linebacker 1999 Al Lucas, Troy State Defensive Tackle 1998 James Milton, Western Illinois Linebacker 1997 Chris McNeil, North Carolina A&T Defensive End 1996 Dexter Coakley, Appalachian State Linebacker 1995 Dexter Coakley, Appalachian State Linebacker *-Stats Perform FCS Defensive Player of the Year 🏈FCS FOOTBALL HISTORY🏈 🏆 Championships: Championship history | Winningest teams | Schools with the most titles 🥇 Awards: Walter Payton | Buck Buchanan | Jerry Rice 🔥 2021 award winners: Eric Barriere | Isaiah Land | Shedeur Sanders 🤯 FCS-over-FBS upsets: All-time history | Upset blueprint 👀 Top-5 all-time players: North Dakota State | Montana | Eastern Washington | Harvard ⚔️ Rivalries: Harvard/Yale | Lafayette/Lehigh | Montana/Montana State | Oldest rivalries ✊ HBCU: Championship history | Greatest individual players 🐐 Careers in review: Kupp | Wentz | Lance | Garappolo | Heinicke 🏟 STADIUMS: The 25 biggest FCS stadiums | The 10 oldest stadiums 😱 RECORDS: 7 unbreakable FCS records | The longest CFB field goal Making sense of FCS conference realignment Here's a breakdown of the many changes to the FCS football landscape in the upcoming seasons amid major conference realignment. READ MORE 3 single-game FCS records that could be next to fall As the FCS evolves, once-untouchable records are now in reach. Here are three single-game FCS records that could be next to fall. READ MORE Here is every FCS vs FBS game scheduled for 2022 In 2022, there are over 100 FCS vs. FBS games scheduled as of June 22. Check them out here. READ MORE