HBCU Standouts Named to Buck Buchanan Award Watch List for FCS Preseason Awards

The preseason awards season is in full swing as the FCS gears up for the upcoming season, with the recent release of the Buck Buchanan Award Watch List. This prestigious list, compiled by Stats Perform, features some of the top defensive players in the country, including four standout athletes from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

One of the names on the list is Ckelby Givens, the SWAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Givens had a stellar 2023 season, racking up impressive stats and earning a spot on the FCS Preseason All-American team. His performance on the field last year, which included 61 tackles, 21.0 tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks, and four forced fumbles, solidified his reputation as a top defensive player in the SWAC.

Joining Givens on the watch list is MEAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Kenny Gallop. Gallop, who was instrumental in leading Howard to its first outright MEAC title in nearly three decades, put up impressive numbers last season, including 59 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two interceptions, and three pass breakups.

Other HBCU standouts mentioned on the Buck Buchanan Award watch list include Florida A&M’s Kendall Bohler and Morgan State’s Erick Hunter. Bohler played a key role in Florida A&M’s championship-winning season last year, while Hunter’s impressive 2023 campaign saw him amass 75 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles.

The Buck Buchanan Award, named after Grambling State Hall of Fame defender Buck Buchanan, has a rich history of honoring top defensive players in the FCS. With six HBCU players having won the award in its history, the inclusion of these talented athletes on the watch list only adds to the excitement surrounding the upcoming season.