PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Lamar University rising senior Andrew Huff has been named to the 2026 Buck Buchanan Award Preseason Watch List announced Stats Perform FCS Senior Editor Craig Haley Tuesday morning. The award, which began in 1995, is presented annually to the defensive player of the year at the NCAA FCS level and comes just 24 hours after Huff was named preseason first-team All-America.
 
A native a Missouri City, Texas, Huff becomes the first player in program history to be named to the Buck Buchanan Preseason Watch List, and the first Cardinal to be named to any of the STATS Perform preseason award watch lists since Kade Harrington in 2016 (Walter Payton Award).
 
The award is named for Junious "Buck" Buchanan who was a dominant defensive tackle for 13 seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs (1963-75). A two-way player at Grambling State, Buchanan was named NAIA All-American in 1962 before being drafted. He became the first player from an HBCU to be selected in the first round of a professional draft by the Chiefs. Buchanan was a 1990 induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and a 1996 College Football Hall of Fame inductee.
 
"Andrew is just an amazing young man," said LU head coach Pete Rossomando. "He's a hard-working guy who does a great job preparing for practice and gamedays. We're all just impressed with his work ethic. That is what gets you to the door, but he also has tremendous talent that just shines on the field."
 
One of just five defensive lineman named to the watch list, Huff is one of just three Southland Conference players named to the list.
 
Huff was one of Southland's top newcomers a year ago and was a finalist for the league's newcomer of the year award. A highly underrated player on the Cards' defensive line, Huff ended 2025 fifth on the team with 60 total tackles, including 20 solo stops. Of his 60 tackles, 10.5 came behind the line of scrimmage including a team-best 6.5 sacks. He also recorded two quarterback hurries, forced a fumble, blocked a kick and recorded one pass break up.
 
Within the Southland Conference, Huff ranked 11^th in tackles for losses and third in the conference in sacks.
 
Huff was twice named SLC Defensive Player of the Week during his junior campaign. The first honor came during a week three road victory at Texas Southern where LU's defense played near flawless football nearly forcing a shutout against the Tigers. Huff recorded four tackles in the game (two solos), with 1.5 sacks and forced a fumble which led to a score. Lamar allowed just one first-quarter touchdown in the blowout victory.
 
Huff's second honor came following a Nov. 8 upset over No. 19 Southeastern Louisiana.
 
Players can be added and removed from the watch list as the 2026 season progresses. The award will be voted on at the end of the season by a national media panel. STATS Perform sponsors six national awards – Walter Payton Award (FCS football's version of the Heisman Trophy), 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 in addition to the Buck Buchanan Award.