Wilson named to Buck Buchanan Award Watch List

After leading Montana in sacks and tackles for loss in his first season as a Grizzly, Riley Wilson is once again expected to be one of the most prolific linebackers in the FCS heading into his junior season.

So much so that he was one of 30 players nationwide, and one of just four from the Big Sky Conference named to the Buck Buchanan Award watch list, Stats Perform announced Wednesday.

The Buchanan Award is presented annually to the defensive player of the year in Division-I FCS football and is named for legendary defensive lineman Junious "Buck" Buchanan of Grambling.

With just two starts his sophomore year, Wilson was Montana's leader in both sacks (8.5) and tackles for loss (15) and was 6th in total tackles (53). He finished the year ranked second in the Big Sky in total TFLs and first in solo TFLs with 13.

He registered a sack in five different games and at least a half TFL in all but two games. He finished fifth in the Big Sky in sacks and was named Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week for the first time in his career following the Northern Colorado Game where he posted six tackles, four TFLs, and three sacks.

The Texan was twice named second-team preseason All-America by Stats Perform and FCS Central/Sports Illustrated in the leadup to the 2024 campaign. He also earned a place on the preseason All-Big Sky team from the league's kickoff event in Spokane.

He also enters the season rated as the No. 3 overall edge rusher in the FCS 2026 draft class by Pro Football Focus with an 83.5 overall grade.

More players can join the watch list before a national media panel selects the winner after the regular season from a group of finalists. All 13 FCS conferences are represented on the watch list, which includes 10 past finalists.

Montana has a long history of success with the Buchanan Award over the past thirty years. UM's most recent winner was linebacker Dante Olson in 2019, with Tyrone Holmes winning in 2015 and Kroy Biermann in 2007. Braxton Hill was a finalist in 2023 and Patrick O'Connell, Justin Ford, and Robby Hauck were all on the Watch list in 2022, with O'Connell and Ford finishing third and fourth in the voting, respectively.

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), Urban Edge Network HBCU+ Player of the Year and FedEx Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year will be presented at the Stats Perform national awards banquet on Jan. 5 in Frisco, Texas.

2024 Buck Buchanan Award Preseason Watchlist

Defensive Linemen
Finn Claypool, Drake, R-Jr., 6-1, 232 (Pioneer Football League) – 2023 Finalist
Ckelby Givens, Southern, Jr., 6-2, 230 (Southwestern Athletic Conference)
Brody Grebe, Montana State, Sr., 6-2, 248 (Big Sky Conference) – 2023 Finalist
Eli Mostaert, North Dakota State, Sr., 6-3, 287 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Elijah Ponder, Cal Poly, R-Sr., 6-3, 245 (Big Sky Conference)
Josiah Silver, New Hampshire, Sr., 6-2, 243 (CAA Football)
David Walker, Central Arkansas, Sr., 6-3, 260 (United Athletic Conference) – 2022 and 2023 Finalist

Linebackers
Amir Abdullah, Illinois State, Sr., 6-3, 215 (Missouri Valley Football Conference) – 2023 Finalist
Adam Bock, South Dakota State, Sr., 6-1, 225 (Missouri Valley Football Conference) – 2021 Finalist
James Conway, Fordham, Sr., 6-2, 225 (Patriot League)
Micah Davey, McNeese, R-Jr., 6-2, 239 (Southland Conference) – 2023 Finalist
Erick Hunter, Morgan State, Sr., 6-4, 210 (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) – 2023 Finalist
Logan Kopp, North Dakota State, Jr., 6-1, 217 (Missouri Valley Football Conference) – 2023 Finalist
Noah Martin, Samford, Sr., 6-1, 232 (Southern Conference)
Bryce Norman, Southeast Missouri, Sr., 6-0, 220 (Big South-OVC Football Association) – 2022 Finalist
Ken Standley, Mercer, Sr., 5-11, 225 (Southern Conference)
Elijawah Tolbert, Eastern Illinois, Sr., 6-1, 240 (Big South-OVC Football Association)
Riley Wilson, Montana, Jr., 6-2, 224 (Big Sky Conference)

Defensive Backs
Oshae Baker, UT Martin, Sr., 5-10, 200 (Big South-OVC Football Association)
Kendall Bohler, Florida A&M, R-Sr., 6-0, 193 (Southwestern Athletic Conference)
Kimal Clark, Central Connecticut State, Jr., 5-10, 200 (Northeast Conference)
Rex Connors, UC Davis, Jr., 6-1, 203 (Big Sky Conference)
Caleb Curtain, Elon, R-Jr., 6-1, 191 (CAA Football)
Kenny Gallop Jr., Howard, R-Sr., 6-0, 214 (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) – 2023 Finalist
Tyler Morton, Nicholls, Sr., 5-10, 165 (Southland Conference)
Isaiah Reed, Brown, Sr., 6-0, 180 (Ivy League)
Isas Waxter, Villanova, Sr., 6-2, 215 (CAA Football)
Saiku White, Lafayette, Sr., 6-0, 201 (Patriot League)
TaMuarion Wilson, Central Arkansas, Sr., 6-2, 205 (United Athletic Conference)
Cole Wisniewski, North Dakota State, Sr., 6-4, 217 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)

University of Montana Athletics

Players Mentioned

Braxton Hill

Riley Wilson

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