The Buck Buchanan Award is presented to the FCS national defensive player of the year and boasts a rich history of recipients. Central Arkansas defensive end David Walker is the 2024 recipient in the award’s 30th anniversary season.
Few would be surprised to learn Central Arkansas defensive end David Walker grew up as a big fan of Hall of Famer Ray Lewis.
It reflects in Walker’s relentless motor and dominating style on the defensive side of the ball.
Walker saved his best for last as a senior, capping his UCA career as the 2024 recipient of the Buck Buchanan Award – presented to the national defensive player of the year in Division I FCS college football – at the Stats Perform FCS National Awards Banquet Saturday night in Frisco, Texas.
Walker was one of 35 finalists in the 30th anniversary season of the Buchanan Award, comfortably winning a national vote (he gained 23 of 56 first-place votes) over Mercer cornerback TJ Moore and Richmond defensive end Jeremiah Grant.
The 6-foot-2, 260-pound senior from Stuttgart, Arkansas, racked up 68 tackles (45 solos), 23 tackles for loss (121 yards) and 10.5 sacks in 12 games, while also setting career highs with four forced fumbles, eight quarterback hurries and six pass breakups. He had 60 TFLs and 31 sacks over his three seasons at Central Arkansas following a transfer from Division II Southern Arkansas.
Walker’s 2024 campaign marked his third straight as a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, beginning with a third-place finish in 2022, and as a first-team selection on the Stats Perform FCS All-America Team. He’s also been his conference’s defensive player of the year in three consecutive seasons (United Athletic Conference the last two).
Moore and Grant were first-team All-Americans as well. Moore ranks second in the FCS in interceptions (seven) and is tied for the third-most passes defended (20). Grant leads the FCS in sacks (13.5)
The Buck Buchanan Award 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.
2024 Buck Buchanan Award Voting
Following is a breakdown of the voting results. A first-place vote was worth five points, a second-place vote four points, a third-place vote three points, a fourth-place vote two points and a fifth-place vote one point. The final number is the combined point total.
- 1. David Walker, DE, Central Arkansas: 23-8-3-3-2-164
- 2. TJ Moore, CB, Mercer: 3-10-8-6-2-93
- 3. Jeremiah Grant, DE, Richmond: 6-5-6-3-0-74
- 4. Mi’Quise Grace, DL, South Dakota: 7-5-4-1-2-71
- 5. Josiah Silver, DE, New Hampshire: 2-2-7-3-4-49
- T6. Ckelby Givens, DE, Southern: 1-7-0-1-8-43
- T6. Bryce Norman, LB, Southeast Missouri: 2-3-2-7-1-43
- 8. Blake Gotcher, LB, Northwestern State: 4-2-2-1-2-38
- 9. Brody Grebe, DE, Montana State: 4-2-2-1-1-37
- 10. Elijah Williams, DE, Morgan State: 1-4-3-0-1-31
- 11. Brandon Tucker, LB, East Texas A&M: 1-0-3-5-2-26
- 12. Kenny Gallop Jr., S, Howard: 2-1-0-2-1-19
- 13. A.J. Pena, LB, Rhode Island: 0-0-3-3-3-18
- 14. Eli Mostaert, DT, North Dakota State: 0-1-2-3-1-17
- 15. Gideon Lampron, LB, Dayton: 0-1-0-2-7-15
- 16. Keyshawn James-Newby, DE, Idaho: 0-1-1-2-0-11
- T17. Eli Ennis, LB, McNeese: 0-0-2-1-2-10
- T17. Cabel Francl, LB, South Dakota State: 0-1-1-1-1-10
- T17. David Meyer, LB, UC Davis: 0-1-1-0-3-10
- 20. Ben Bogle, LB, Southern Illinois: 0-0-0-3-3-9
- 21. Noah Martin, LB, Samford: 0-0-0-3-2-8
- T22. Andrew Jones, LB, Grambling State: 0-1-1-0-0-7
- T22. Jalen Jones, CB, William & Mary: 0-0-1-1-2-7
- T24. Brayden Manley, DE, Mercer: 0-0-0-1-3-5
- T24. Saiku White, S, Lafayette: 0-0-1-0-2-5
- T26. Abu Kamara, S, Yale: 0-0-0-2-0-4
- T26. Finn Claypool, DE, Drake: 0-1-0-0-0-4
- T28. Mason Chambers, S, UIW: 0-0-1-0-0-3
- T28. Matt Jaworski, DE, Fordham: 0-0-1-0-0-3
- T28. Hayden McDonald, CB, Columbia: 0-0-1-0-0-3
- 31. Jalen McClelland, CB, Tennessee State: 0-0-0-1-0-2
- 32. Kimal Clark, S, Central Connecticut State: 0-0-0-0-1-1
- T33. Mike DeNucci, LB, Lehigh: 0-0-0-0-0-0
- T33. Will Shaffer, LB, Abilene Christian: 0-0-0-0-0-0
- T33. Jaylon Sharpe, LB, UT Martin: 0-0-0-0-0-0
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