Wing named to Buchanan Award Watch List

Grizzly newcomer Peyton Wing had a breakout season at linebacker last year for Portland State, averaging the fourth-most tackles per-game in the Big Sky.

Montana has earned the moniker "Linebacker U" of the FCS for its rich history of toughness at the position.

So, it was a match made in heaven then when Wing moved to Missoula in the offseason, and the pundits have taken notice.

As a new potential star in the Grizzly 'backer room, Wing added to his preseason accolades haul on Wednesday with a place on 2025 Stats Perform Buck Buchanan Award Watch List. He's one of 30 standouts from around the FCS to earn a spot. He's also one of just three players from the Big Sky and one of eight rising juniors and to make the list.

This is Wing's third major preseason honor of the year, also being named to the Stats Perform Preseason All-America team and the preseason all-conference team earlier in the summer.

All these accolades come on the heels of a stellar sophomore season at PSU where he led the team with 93 total stops and 7.5 tackles for loss to earn second-team all-conference honors.

The Grizzlies have long history of success with Buchanan Award, boasting 12 former finalists and three winners of the prize given annually to the defensive MVP in the subdivision.

Linebacker Braxton Hill (now with the Saskatchewan Roughriders) was UM's last finalist in 2023. Patrick O'Connell (now with the Seattle Seahawks), Josh Buss, and Dante Olson (all linebackers) have all been finalists as well, with Olson winning "The Buck" in 2019. Defensive ends Tyrone Holmes and Kroy Biermann have also won the top prize. Veteran NFL linebacker and new UM TV analyst Jordan Tripp was a two-time finalist in 2012 and 13, and Trumaine Johnson was a two-time finalist as well.

With Wing's inclusion, Montana now has two players in the mix for 2025's postseason awards. Running back Eli Gillman also earned a place on the Walter Payton Award Watch List on Tuesday.

The Buchanan Award, now 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.

All 13 FCS conferences are represented on the watch list, which includes seven past finalists. This season's recipient will be announced at the Stats Perform National Awards Banquet on Jan. 3, 2026, in Nashville, Tennessee.

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 presented at the Stats Perform FCS National Awards Banquet.

2025 Buck Buchanan Award Watch List

Defensive Linemen
Jake Anderson, Illinois State, R-Jr., 6-5, 290 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Toby Anene, North Dakota State, Jr., 6-4, 260 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Paul Brott, Montana State, Sr., 6-3, 290 (Big Sky Conference)
Lando Brown, Southern Utah, R-Sr., 5-11, 215 (United Athletic Conference)
Kobe Clayborne, South Dakota State, Sr., 6-0, 275 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Jack Dunkley, Duquesne, Jr., 6-4, 250 (Northeast Conference)
Ckelby Givens, Southern, Sr., 6-2, 230 (Southwestern Athletic Conference) – 2024 Finalist
Rasheed Lovelace, Nicholls, R-Jr., 6-3, 310 (Southland Conference)
Matt Spatny, Lehigh, Sr., 6-2, 245 (Patriot League)
Andrew Zock, Mercer, So., 6-2, 250 (Southern Conference)

Linebackers
Sean Allison, Drake, Sr., 6-1, 230 (Pioneer Football League)
James Conway, Fordham, Grad, 6-2, 235 (Patriot League)
Shane Hartzell, Villanova, Sr., 6-0, 230 (CAA Football)
Erick Hunter, Morgan State, Sr., 6-4, 210 (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) – 2023 Finalist
Logan Kopp, North Dakota State, R-Sr., 6-1, 221 (Missouri Valley Football Conference) – 2023 Finalist
Tye Niekamp, Illinois State, Jr., 6-3, 240 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
A.J. Pena, Rhode Island, Sr., 6-2, 243 (CAA Football) – 2024 Finalist
Will Shaffer, Abilene Christian, Grad, 6-0, 224 (United Athletic Conference) – 2024 Finalist
Declan Williams, UIW, Sr., 6-2, 245 (Southland Conference)
Peyton Wing, Montana, Jr., 6-0, 230 (Big Sky Conference)

Defensive Backs
Ty Bartrum, Harvard, Sr., 6-1, 195 (Ivy League)
Rex Connors, UC Davis, Sr., 6-1, 210 (Big Sky Conference)
C.J. Coombes, Wofford, So., 6-0, 208 (Southern Conference)
Tim Coutras, Tennessee Tech, Grad, 6-0, 198 (OVC-Big South Football Association)
Jalen Jones, William & Mary, Sr., 6-0, 190 (CAA Football) – 2024 Finalist
Abu Kamara, Yale, Jr., 6-1, 208 (Ivy League) – 2024 Finalist
JaMichael McGoy Jr., UT Martin, R-Sr., 5-10, 170 (OVC-Big South Football Association)
Tyler Morton, UIW, R-Sr., 5-10, 170 (Southland Conference)
Nahil Perkins, Samford, Grad, 6-0, 178 (Southern Conference)
Malcolm Reed, North Carolina Central, Sr., 6-3, 180 (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)

University of Montana Athletics

Related News

Players Mentioned

Eli Gillman

Peyton Wing

Related Videos