Courtesy of Derek W. Bryant, Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations & Sports Information, Howard University
Stats Perform unveiled its FCS Buck Buchanan Award Preseason Watch List where Howard University graduate defensive back Kenny Gallop Jr.(Portsmouth, Va.) was among the 30 top defenders in the country. The announcement came Wednesday morning.
The award is named for legendary defensive lineman Junious “Buck” Buchanan, who starred at Grambling State as part of his Hall of Fame career.
Earlier this week, Gallop was selected to the Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America First Team after guiding the club to back-to-back Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) titles and first ever Celebration Bowl berth.
Last week, (July 23), he was named to the East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 list.
This month, the 2023 Aeneas Williams Award winner has earned several preseason accolades, including FCS Football Central Preseason All-American Team and 2024 MEAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
A year ago, the 2023 Buck Buchanan Award finalist produced 65 total tackles (42 solos) with six tackles for loss, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and two quarterback hurries. In the homecoming victory over Norfolk State (Oct. 21, 2023), Gallop recorded a season-high 11 total tackles and the game-clinching interception. For his efforts, he was named FCS National Defensive Player of the Week.
The 2024 Buchanan Award will be presented after the season to the national defensive player of the year in Division I FCS college football. More student-athletes can join the watch list before a national media panel selects the winner after the regular season from a group of finalists. Past Buchanan recipients include Dexter Coakley, Rashean Mathis, Jared Allen and Arthur Moats.
All 13 FCS conferences are represented on the watch list, which includes 10 past finalists.
Howard opens the 2024 campaign at Rutgers Thursday (Aug. 29), live on the Big Ten Network. Kickoff at 6 p.m., inside SHI Stadium.
