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BUCHANAN AWARD: Complete history of the top FCS defensive honor

Walker received the Buchanan Award at a ceremony in Frisco, Texas, two days before the 2024-25 FCS Championship game. After finishing third in 2022 voting and as a finalist in 2023, Walker won the award after a dominant regular season. In 12 regular season games, the edge-defender finished with 68 tackles (45 solo), 23 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, eight quarterback hurries and six pass breakups.

Crazy impressive play by David Walker to strip the ball, pick it up and hurdle a man on the return.

— Sam Lane (@SamLaneOK)

Walker is the 14th defensive end to win the Buchanan Award — the second-most of any position — since the award debuted in 1995. 

David Walker in the best player in the FCS.

- Stone

— FCS Nation Radio (@FCSNationRadio1)

As the 2024 Buck Buchanan Award winner, Walker joins an elite fraternity of FCS greats like Dexter Coakley (Appalachian State, 1995-96), Rashean Mathis (Bethune-Cookman, 2002), Jared Allen (Idaho State, 2003) and more.

MORE AWARDS: Walter Payton Award history | Jerry Rice Award history

Top moments

See some more of Walker's top moments from 2024 below.

Don’t let anyone ever tell you isn’t fast.

— 𝗨𝗖𝗔 𝗕𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗢𝗧𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗟 (@UCA_Football)

If Vegas set lines for the sickos on which sub-FBS defensive prospect gets drafted first in April, Central Arkansas EDGE David Walker would be odds-on favorite.

Checkout Walker here👇off left side. Blows past LT before he's even out of his stance, flattens, & aggressively rakes…

— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB)

EDGE David Walker (#8) already on a tear through five games, has 10.5 TFLs and 6.5 sacks, explosive first step and added some weight to his frame in the off-season.

Has dominated the FCS level this last couple seasons and it’s continuing this year.

— Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson)

I understand it was by design, but I would advise against not blocking David Walker.

That brings Walker to 6.5 this season.

— Sam Lane (@SamLaneOK)

Huge fan of Central Arkansas EDGE David Walker (#8) for a couple years now. Densely built pass rusher with impressive closing burst and diverse plan.

He was dominant against Arkansas State this past week.

— Ryan Roberts (@RiseNDraft)