Football
UCA’s David Walker named Buchanan Award finalist
UCA senior defensive end is once again a finalist for being named the defensive player of the year amongst FCS schools.
Maybe the third time is the charm for Central Arkansas senior David Walker.
The defensive end was named a finalist for the 2024 Buck Buchanan Award, which goes to the national defensive player of the year in the FCS. It’s his third time as a finalist and his previous best finish was third place in 2022.
The Buchanan Award is one of the individual awards Walker hasn’t won. He was the Defensive Player of the Year in the ASUN in 2022 and the UAC in 2023.
This past season, Walker recorded 69 tackles, 23 tackles for a loss (third most in the nation) and 10.5 sacks (ninth most in the nation). He also led the UAC in both TFL and sacks.
Central Arkansas DE David Walker is one of three finalists out of 35 overall who have been invited to the announcement of the 2024 Buck Buchanan Award.
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— FCS Football (@OptaAnalystFCS) December 3, 2024
“This is another great day in the career of David Walker,” UCA coach Nathan Brown said. “He has put a lot of time and energy into the game of football and to see him get recognized, once again, for his play is exciting. He will go down as the greatest defensive player to ever step on the field at UCA, and will be a three-time All American in Division 1 football. That is a resume that is hard to find regardless of the era it was played in. To me, the most impressive thing is his performance this year while having the attention of not only the media and people outside the program but also the attention of the opposing teams schemes and concepts to counter how good he is. He is the best football player in Division 1 FCS football regardless of position and it showed all year.
“I look forward to watching his NFL journey and what is next for him at the professional level, not only representing himself but also the UCA family.”
The Buck Buchanan Award is named for legendary defensive lineman Junious “Buck” Buchanan, who starred at Grambling State as part of his Hall of Fame career. Past recipients include Dexter Coakley, Rashean Mathis, Jared Allen and Arthur Moats.
| 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 |
