DES MOINES, Iowa – Senior linebacker
Sean Allison has received national recognition as an honoree on the 2025 Buck Buchanan Award Preseason Watch List, Stats Perform announced this morning. Allison is one of 30 defensive players included on the watch list and the only representative of the Pioneer Football League.
Allison, a linebacker from Hinsdale, Ill., returns as a 2024 All-PFL Second Team selection and adds the official PFL preseason honor to the same recognition from college football analyst Phil Steele. Allison tallied 105 total tackles last season, the second-most on the team, with 5.5 for loss and 2.5 sacks plus an interception and two quarterback hurries.
He adds this national honor to a Preseason All-Pioneer Football League nod that was announced yesterday.
The 6-foot, 1-inch, 230-pound linebacker is the first Drake defender to received Buck Buchanan Award looks since All-American defensive end
Finn Claypool earned two listings. This marks the third straight year a Drake defensive player has landed on the Buck Buchanan Preseason Watch List as both of Claypool's honors came in 2023 and 2024.
The award, in its 31st 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. Central Arkansas' David Walker, a 2024 NFL Draft pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, won last year's honor.
2025 Buck Buchanan Award Preseason Watch List.
Sean Allison – LB - Drake
Jake Anderson – DL – Illinois State
Toby Anene – DL – North Dakota State
Ty Bartrum – DB - Harvard
Paul Brott – DL – Montana State
Lando Brown – DL – Southern Utah
Kobe Clayborne – DL – South Dakota State
Rex Connors – DB – UC Davis
James Conway – LB – Fordham
CJ Coombes – DB – Wofford
Tim Coutras – DB – Tennessee Tech
Jack Dunkley – DL – Duquesne
Ckelby Givens – DL – Southern
Shane Hartzell – LB – Villanova
Erick Hunter – LB – Morgan State
Jalen Jones – DB – William & Mary
Abu Kamara – DB - Yale
Logan Kopp – LB – North Dakota State
Rasheed Lovelace – DL – Nicholls
JaMichael McGoy, Jr. – DB – UT Martin
Tyler Morton – DB – Incarnate Word
Tye Niekamp – LB – Illinois State
AJ Pena – LB – Rhode Island
Nahil Perkins – DB – Samford
Malcolm Reed – DB – NC Central
Will Shaffer – LB – Abilene Christian
Matt Spatny – DL – Lehigh
Declan Williams – LB – Incarnate Word
Peyton Wing – LB - Montana
Andrew Zock – DL - Mercer
The Buck Buchanan Award was first presented in 1995. More players can join the watch list before a national media panel selects the winner after the regular season from a group of finalists.
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 handed out at the Stats Perform FCS National Awards Presentation.
