RELEASE
MOSCOW, Idaho – Junior linebacker
Tre Walker has been named a finalist for the Stats Perform FCS Buck Buchanan Award, presented annually to the national defensive player of the year in the Football Championship Subdivision.
Walker led the Vandals and the Big Sky Conference with 13.5 tackles per game, the third best average in the country. He finished the condensed spring season with 54 tackles in four games. Walker record 13-plus tackles in three of four games played this season.
He is one of 18 finalists for the award. Walker is joined by Southern Utah's La'akae Kaho'ohanohano-Davis as the two Big Sky representatives. Half of the list are linebackers.
In total, nine seniors/graduate students are represented on the list of finalists. Walker is among five juniors on the list.
In three seasons of play, including the most recent shortened season, Walker now has 233 total tackles and sits just outside the top-20 in program history.
The Buchanan Award, named for the legendary defensive end and in its 26
th season, has watched past winners such as Dexter Coakley, Rashean Mathis, Jared Allen, Arthur Moats and Kyle Emanuel move on to NFL careers.
A 40-member national media panel will select the winner from the unprecedented 2020-21 season, which has spanned the fall and spring semesters. The recipient will be announced on May 15.
Also in the next month, Stats Perform will present 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) and Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
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