Theron Gaines Named a Finalist for Buck Buchanan Award
Tennessee Tech senior linebacker Theron Gaines was named a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award which honors the nation’s best defensive player, as announced today by Stats Perform.
By Jeff Bowe, TTU Athletics Media Relations
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech senior linebacker Theron Gaines was named a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, which honors the nation's best defensive player, as announced today by Stats Perform.
Theron Gaines was named Second-Team All-Conference following the 2024 season as a defensive lineman and moved to linebacker before the 2025 season. He went on to lead the Golden Eagles this season with 86 total tackles, finishing eighth in the conference. He made 6.5 sacks, leading all OVC-Big South linebackers in that category.
30 FCS Defensive Standouts Named Finalists for 2025 Buck Buchanan Award | Opta Analyst
Gaines earned OVC-Big South Defensive Player of the week twice during the season, both after performances that included a fumble and an interception return for a touchdown.
Stats Perform has announced a standout list 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.
The award, in its 31st season, is named for legendary defensive lineman Junious "Buck" Buchanan, who starred at Grambling State during his Hall of Fame career. Past Buchanan recipients include Dexter Coakley, Rashean Mathis, and Jared Allen. Central Arkansas's David Walker was last season's winner. Montana State's Tommy Mellott was last season's winner.
All 13 FCS conferences are 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.
Also, this season, 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), HBCU National Player of the Year, and Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year will be presented at the Stats Perform FCS National Awards Show.
2025 Buck Buchanan Award Finalists
Defensive Linemen
Lando Brown, Southern Utah, R-Sr., 5-11, 215 (United Athletic Conference)
55 tackles (30 solo), 18.0 TFL (97 yards), 14.0 sacks (89), 11 QBH (11 games)
Robert Holz, Gardner-Webb, Sr., 6-3, 255 (OVC-Big South Football Association)
53 tackles (23 solo), 16.5 TFL (66 yards), 11.0 sacks (59), 2 FF, 11 QBH (12 games)
Quincy Ivory, Jackson State, Sr., 6-3, 239 (Southwestern Athletic Conference)
64 tackles (31 solo), 13.5 TFL (71 yards), 6.0 sacks (39), 2 FF, 1 FR, 1 INT, 5 QBH (11 games)
Kaleb Proctor, Southeastern Louisiana, Sr., 6-3, 280 (Southland Conference)
38 tackles (17 solo), 12.0 TFL (63 yards), 8.0 sacks (55 yards), 4 QBH, 2 PBU (12 games)
Jacob Psyk, UC Davis, Grad, 6-3, 265 (Big Sky Conference)
46 tackles (34 solo), 15.0 TFL (50 yards), 9.0 sacks (39), 3 FF, 2 FR, 5 QBH, 3 PBU, 1 BK (11 games)
Joshua Stoneking, Furman, R-So., 6-3, 264 (Southern Conference)
79 tackles (42 solo), 23.0 TFL (132 yards), 14.5 sacks (97 yards), 2 FF, 9 QBH, 2 PBU, 1 BK (12 games)
Andrew Zock, Mercer, So., 6-2, 250 (Southern Conference)
41 tackles (23 solo), 20.0 TFL (109 yards), 11.5 sacks (89), 2 FF, 1 FR, 22 QBH, 3 PBU (11 games)
Linebackers
Theron Gaines, Tennessee Tech, Sr., 6-1, 237 (OVC-Big South Football Association)
86 tackles (40 solo), 13.5 TFL (43 yards), 6.5 sacks (28), 1 INT (TD), 2 PBU, 7 QBH, 2 FR (1 TD), 1 FF (12 games)
Sean Allison, Drake, Sr., 6-0, 235 (Pioneer Football League)
120 tackles (59 solo), 8.0 TFL (14 yards), 2.0 sacks (7), 2 INT, 3 PBU (11 games)
Luke Banbury, William & Mary, Grad, 6-2, 230 (CAA Football)
137 tackles (70 solo), 5.5 TFL (17 yards), 2.0 sacks (12), 1 FR, 1 QBH, 6 PBU (12 games)
James Conway, Fordham, Grad, 6-2, 235 (Patriot League)
159 tackles (72 solo), 8.0 TFL (27 yards), 5.0 sacks (22), 1 FF, 1 INT, 3 PBU (12 games)
Shane Hartzell, Villanova, Sr., 6-0, 230 (CAA Football)
71 tackles (42 solo), 13.0 TFL (50 yards), 6.0 sacks (33), 8 QBH, 1 PBU (11 games)
David Hoage, West Georgia, Grad, 6-3, 250 (United Athletic Conference)
62 tackles (33 solo), 20.0 TFL (116 yards), 8.5 sacks (79), 1 PBU, 7 QBH, 3 FF (11 games)
Erick Hunter, Morgan State, Sr., 6-4, 220 (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)
102 tackles (53 solo), 14.0 TFL (55 yards), 4.0 sacks (34), 3 FF, 1 INT, 5 QBH, 3 PBU, 1 TD/1 safety (12 games)
Logan Kopp, North Dakota State, R-Sr., 6-1, 221 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
64 tackles (35 solo), 9.0 TFL (27), 3.0 sacks (19), 1 FR, 4 QBH, 2 PBU (12 games)
Rashon Myles Jr., Abilene Christian, Jr., 6-1, 220 (United Athletic Conference)
104 tackles (50 solo), 8.0 TFL (32 yards), 2.5 sacks (16), 5 FR, 1 INT, 3 PBU (12 games)
Tye Niekamp, Illinois State, Jr., 6-3, 240 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
126 tackles (12.0 yards), 12.0 TFL (23 yards), 1 FF, 1 FR, 4 QBH, 6 PBU, 1 safety (12 games)
Tyler Ochojski, Lehigh, Sr., 6-2, 230 (Patriot League)
56 tackles (35 solo), 12.0 TFL (90 yards), 10.0 sacks (84), 1 FF, 1 FR, 7 QBH, 4 PBU (12 games)
A.J. Pena, Rhode Island, Sr., 6-2, 243 (CAA Football)
61 tackles (31 solo), 17.5 TFL (79 yards), 9.5 sacks (64), 1 FF, 11 QBH, 3 PBU (12 games)
Jaydon Southard, Stephen F. Austin, Sr., 6-1, 225 (Southland Conference)
110 tackles (48 solo), 10.5 TFL (40 yards), 2.5 sacks (22 yards), 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 INT, 3 QBH, 2 PBU (11 games)
Jack Stoll, Central Connecticut State. 6-0, 230 (NEC Football)
86 tackles (50 solo), 15.5 TFL (41 yards), 1 PBU 1 BK (12 games)
Defensive Backs
Ty Bartrum, Harvard, Sr., 6-1, 200 (Ivy League)
72 tackles (20 solo), 0.5 TFL (1 yard), 1 FF, 1 INT, 1 QBH, 3 PBU (10 games)
Kimal Clark, Indiana State, Sr., 5-10, 195 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
145 tackles (59 solo), 4.5 TFL (25 yards), 2.0 sacks (21), 2 FF, 2 FR, 1 QBH, 5 PBU (12 games)
Caden Dowler, Montana State, Jr., 6-0, 205 (Big Sky Conference)
78 tackles (50 solo), 5.5 TFL (16 yards), 1.0 sack (6), 2 FF, 4 INT (2 TDs), 4 PBU (12 games)
Jalen Jones, William & Mary, Sr., 6-0, 195 (CAA Football)
39 tackles (26 solo), 1.5 TFL (3 yards), 2 INTs, 10 PBU, 2 QBH (11 games)
Abu Kamara, Yale, Jr., 6-1, 208 (Ivy League)
65 tackles (32 solo), 6.0 TFL (26 yards), 3.5 sacks (23), 1 FF, 3 FR (1 TD), 2 INT (1 TD), 1 QBH, 8 PBU, 1 BK (10 games)
Kasyus Kurns, Tarleton State, Sr., 5-10, 170 (United Athletic Conference)
26 tackles (15 solo), 2.0 TFL (4 yards), 1 FR, 5 INT, 1 QBH, 3 PBU (10 games)
Maximus Pulley, Wofford, 5th Year, 5-11, 200 (Southern Conference)
85 tackles (41 solo), 2.5 TFL (4 yards), 1 FF, 1 FR, 5 INT (2 TDs), 5 PBU, 1 BK (11 games)
Nate Robinson Jr., Marist, So., 6-1, 200 (Pioneer Football League)
64 tackles (30 solo), 1.5 TFL (2), 1 FR, 4 INT, 11 PBU (12 games)
Jarod Washington, South Carolina State, Sr., 6-2, 188 (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)
32 tackles (29 solo), 1.0 TFL (3 yards), 1 FF, 2 INT (1 TD), 20 PBU (12 games)
