University of Richmond Athletics
Photo by: Amanda Coll Photography LLC 2023
Wheeler Honored As Buck Buchanan Award Finalist
11/21/2023 | Football
Richmond, Va. – University of Richmond redshirt senior Tristan Wheeler has been named one of 30 finalists for the prestigious Buck Buchanan Award, given annually to the national defensive player of the year in Division I FCS college football and presented by FedEx Ground.
Wheeler is one of the top defensive players in all of NCAA FCS football, making 48-straight starts in 51 appearances at linebacker. He opened the season with 17 tackles against Morgan State, the second-most in a single game in his career.
With his fourth tackle of the game against Delaware State this season, Wheeler reached the 400 career tackles mark, becoming the seventh Spider to reach the milestone. So far in his career he has totaled 470 career tackles, 32 tackles for loss, six sacks, and four interceptions.
With his fourth tackle of the day during the Campbell game, Wheeler moved into second place all time on the Spiders career tackles list.
The four-time All-CAA selection currently leads all levels of the NCAA (FBS, FCS, DII, DIII) with 470 tackles to his name. With his 11th tackle of the game against Elon, Wheeler has now recorded 100 or more tackles in four-straight full season of football (2019, 2021 fall, 2022, 2023).
The winner of the Buck Buchanan Award, to be selected by a national voting panel, will be announced at the FCS National Awards Banquet on Jan. 6 in Frisco, Texas – the eve of the FCS championship game.
Wheeler is one of the top defensive players in all of NCAA FCS football, making 48-straight starts in 51 appearances at linebacker. He opened the season with 17 tackles against Morgan State, the second-most in a single game in his career.
With his fourth tackle of the game against Delaware State this season, Wheeler reached the 400 career tackles mark, becoming the seventh Spider to reach the milestone. So far in his career he has totaled 470 career tackles, 32 tackles for loss, six sacks, and four interceptions.
With his fourth tackle of the day during the Campbell game, Wheeler moved into second place all time on the Spiders career tackles list.
The four-time All-CAA selection currently leads all levels of the NCAA (FBS, FCS, DII, DIII) with 470 tackles to his name. With his 11th tackle of the game against Elon, Wheeler has now recorded 100 or more tackles in four-straight full season of football (2019, 2021 fall, 2022, 2023).
The winner of the Buck Buchanan Award, to be selected by a national voting panel, will be announced at the FCS National Awards Banquet on Jan. 6 in Frisco, Texas – the eve of the FCS championship game.
Players Mentioned
LB
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