GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Furman defensive end Joshua Stoneking is among 30 finalists for the 2025 Buck Buchanan Award, which honors the national defensive player of the year in college football's Division I FCS subdivision.

Stoneking, a 6-foot-3, 264-pound native of Raleigh, N.C., tallied a team leading 79 tackles and paced the FCS in both total tackles for loss (23.0) and sacks (14.5) this season.

He was named Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Week a league best three times this fall.

In Furman's 28-24 win over Campbell on Sept. 13 he tallied six tackles, including 4.5 for a loss of 21 yards, 2.5 sacks, and a forced fumble. His final sack, which came on fourth down and with 16 seconds on the clock a dnd Campbell at Furman's 17-yard line, preserved the win for the Paladins. 

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The Buchanan 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.

The recipient, to be selected by a national voting panel, will be announced on Dec. 3 and honored at the Stats Perform National Awards Show on Jan. 3 in Nashville, Tenn.

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)
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)
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 
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)
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)
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)
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)

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.