• Complete Buck Buchanan Award Watch List
Charleston Southern senior linebacker
Steve Zayachkowsky is one of 30 players nationally named to the Buck Buchanan Award Watch List by Stats Perform. The award is given to the top defensive player in the FCS.
Zayachkowsky was selected first-team all-conference last season after leading the league with 109 tackles. He reached double-digit tackles six times during the year, including 19 in a game against William & Mary. The linebacker also added 4.5 tackles for loss, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery on the year and was named OVC-Big South Defensive Player of the Week twice.
The award, in its 32nd 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 and Jared Allen; Mercer’s Andrew Zock was the 2025 winner. The OVC has had three previous winners, including Darius Jackson (2017), Zach Hall (2018) and Terrell Allen (2023).
More players can join the watch list before a national media panel selects the winner after the regular season from a group of finalists. Stats Perform also presents 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.
2026 Buck Buchanan Award Preseason Watch List
Defensive Linemen
Camden Byrd, Richmond, R-Sr., 6-3, 245 (Patriot League)
Andrew Huff, Lamar, Sr., 6-2, 230 (Southland Conference)
Mirko Jaksic, Dayton, R-Jr., 6-2, 284 (Pioneer Football League)
Lance Rucker, North Dakota, Sr., 6-3, 230 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
*Joshua Stoneking, Furman, R-Jr., 6-3, 258 (Southern Conference)
Michael Wells, Youngstown State, Sr., 6-3, 250 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Linebackers
Brodie Carroll, Elon, R-Jr., 6-1, 240 (CAA Football)
Jake Dalmado, Southeastern Louisiana, Sr., 6-0, 215 (Southland Conferece)
Mikey D’Amato, Cal Poly, Sr., 6-0, 230 (Big Sky Conference)
Rohan Davy, Rhode Island, Jr., 5-10, 205 (CAA Football)
*Eli Ennis, Stephen F. Austin, R-Sr., 6-2, 220 (Southland Conference)
Anthony Ferrelli, Stony Brook, R-Sr., 6-0, 225 (CAA Football)
Jordan Franklin, South Carolina State, R-Jr., 6-2, 205 (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)
Cullen McShane, South Dakota State, Jr., 6-2, 230 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
*Tye Niekamp, Illinois State, Sr., 6-3, 240 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Kaden Smith, Eastern Kentucky, Jr., 6-2, 222 (United Athletic Conference)
Peyton Wing, Montana, Sr., 6-0, 229 (Big Sky Conference)
Steve Zayachkowsky, Charleston Southern, Sr., 5-10, 215 (OVC Football)
Defensive Backs
Rex Connors, UC Davis, Sr., 6-1, 220 (Big Sky Conference)
*Caden Dowler, Montana State, Sr., 6-0, 205 (Big Sky Conference)
Damien Henderson, Harvard, Sr., 6-0, 180 (Ivy League)
Christopher Jean, Central Connecticut State, R-Jr., 5-10, 180 (NEC Football)
Jaylon Jenkins, Eastern Washington, R-Jr., 6-1, 192 (Big Sky Conference)
Jaeden Jones, Monmouth, Jr., 6-0, 190 (CAA Football)
*Abu Kamara, Yale, Sr., 6-1, 208 (Ivy League)
Ken Moore Jr., Western Carolina, R-Sr., 5-10, 160 (Southern Conference)
Nick Peltekian, Lehigh, 5th Year, 6-0, 215 (Patriot League)
Dylan Rowsey, Murray State, Sr., 6-1, 195 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Ta’Shaun Sims, Alabama State, Jr., 6-0, 188 (Southwestern Athletic Conference)
Trey Watkins, LIU, R-Sr., 6-0, 184 (NEC Football)
* - past finalist