Football
Bears’ Walker picks up top FCS national defensive award
UCA’s top defensive player will have another honor after winning conference honor joining Montana State QB as top FCS players
CONWAY, Ark. — Central Arkansas senior David Walker was named FCS National Defensive Player of the Year on Thursday by the Division I Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association (FCS ADA).
Walker was joined by Montana State quarterback Tommy Mellott, who was the Offensive Player of the Year.
Walker, a 6-foot-2, 260-pound defensive end from Stuttgart, Ark., was the United Athletic Conference (UAC) Defensive Player of the Year, his third consecutive conference player of the year honor. Walker is one of three finalists for the Buck Buchanan Award, given annually to the top defensive player in the FCS subdivision. He was also a finalist in 2022.
Walker led the United Athletic Conference in tackles for loss (23.0) and sacks (10.5), setting the UCA career records in both categories with 31.0 sacks and 60.0 tackles for loss. For the season, Walker had 69 total tackles, forced four fumbles and recovered one and has six pass breakups.
Information from UCA Sports is included in this story.
| Sat, Aug 31 |  | @ Arkansas State | L, 34-31 |
| Sat, Sep 7 |  | @ Lindenwood | W, 34-13 |
| Sat, Sep 14 |  | Austin Peay | W, 45-17 |
| Sat, Sep 21 |  | @ Arkansas-Pine Bluff | W, 56-17 |
| Sat, Sep 28 |  | vs Lamar | W, 34-14 |
| Sat, Oct 5 |  | @ Abilene Christian | L, 41-34 |
| Sat, Oct 12 |  | vs West Georgia | W, 34-33 |
| Sat, Oct 26 |  | vs North Alabama | W, 24-19 |
| Sat, Nov 2 |  | @ Utah Tech | L, 34-21 |
| Sat, Nov 9 |  | @ Eastern Kentucky | L, 31-24 |
| Sat, Nov 16 |  | vs Southern Utah | L, 38-31 |
| Sat, Nov 30 |  | @Tarleton State | 2:00 PM |
