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Abdullah Earns Spot On Buck Buchanan Award Watch List

Abdullah Earns Spot On Buck Buchanan Award Watch List






Football


Mike Williams






CHICAGO, Ill. – Illinois State senior linebacker Amir Abdullah has earned a spot on the preseason watch list for the 2024 Buck Buchanan Award, which is presented annually to the national defensive player of the year in Division I FCS college football. 

The 30th anniversary season of the Stats Perform FCS Buck Buchanan Award kicks off with a 30-player preseason watch list. The award is named for legendary defensive lineman Junious “Buck” Buchanan, who starred at Grambling State as part of his Hall of Fame career. All 13 FCS conferences are represented on the watch list, which includes 10 past finalists like Abdullah, who will look to become the second Redbird to earn the honor following Zeke Vandenburgh’s Buchanan Award win in 2022.

Abdullah finished ninth in the voting for the 2023 Buck Buchanan Award and earned FCS All-America honors from Stats Perform, FCS Football Central, the Associated Press and Phil Steele in his first season with the Redbirds. The Chicago native was an All-MVFC First-Team and All-Newcomer Team selection at linebacker, after he ranked No. 6 in the FCS in sacks per game (0.86) and No. 26 nationally in tackles for loss per game (1.3). 

He started in all 11 games at linebacker, tying for the league lead with 9.5 sacks while leading the MVFC with 14.0 tackles for loss. Abdullah ranked fourth on the team with 64 total tackles (34 solo) and was also credited with two forced fumbles, a pass breakup and one interception on the year. He tallied a season-high 11 tackles at Youngstown State and had three games with two sacks or more, including a 2.5 sack and 3.5 tackle for loss effort at Eastern Illinois. Abdullah capped off the season by being named MVFC Newcomer of the Week, after racking up nine tackles, a sack, 1.5 tackles for loss and an interception against Murray State.

2024 Redbird Football season tickets are available for purchase NOW online at GoRedbirds.com/Tickets or by contacting the ISU Athletics Ticket Office at (309) 438-8000.

GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App:  Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Athletic Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.

 

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Kathryn is the main contributor to the quiz section of LaDailyGazette.com. If you have an idea for a quiz, let us know.

Written by Kathryn Sears

Kathryn is the main contributor to the quiz section of LaDailyGazette.com. If you have an idea for a quiz, let us know.