Mercer defensive end Andrew Zock won the Buck Buchanan Award as the 2025 FCS Football Defensive Player of the Year, edging out top three finishers James Conway (Fordham) and Joshua Stoneking (Furman). Zock is the first Mercer player to win the award in its 29-year history. Zock received the Buchanan Award two days before the 2025-26 FCS Championship Game.
.@AndrewZock1 takes a sack on top @BurgerKing Forcing a Samford punt on 3rd down! π€#WeDoverMe pic.twitter.com/jIM0pEMgMK
β Mercer Football (@MercerFootball) October 4, 2025
BUCHANAN AWARD: The Complete History of the Best FCS Defensive Honor
In 12 regular season games, the Bears defense has 46 tackles (24 solo), 20.0 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and 23 hurries.
Andrew Zock!!!!! @AndrewZock1 This game is closed with a 4th sack! π€
Winning the crime.
Season 4 | 1:54
Mercer 22, Wofford 21#WeDoverMe pic.twitter.com/jIcT7XnEfQβ Mercer Football (@MercerFootball) September 14, 2025
Zock is the 15th defensive player to win the Buchanan Award since the award was first introduced in 1995. The Edge Rushers have won the Buchanan Award in each of the last six seasons in the 2020 decade.
As the 2025 Buck Buchanan Award winner, Zock joins an elite group of FCS greats such as Dexter Coakley (Appalachian State, 1995-96), Rashean Mathis (Bethune-Cookman, 2002) and Jared Allen (Idaho State, 2003).
MORE AWARDS: The History of the Walter Payton Award | History of the Jerry Rice Award
The best moments
Check out Zoe’s best moments of 2025 below.
Andrew Zock!!!!! @AndrewZock1 This game is closed with a 4th sack! π€
Winning the crime.
Season 4 | 1:54
Mercer 22, Wofford 21#WeDoverMe pic.twitter.com/jIcT7XnEfQβ Mercer Football (@MercerFootball) September 14, 2025
Jordan Swain and @AndrewZock1 go to the QB for a sack! πͺ#WeDoverMe pic.twitter.com/oMU1vYb0TA
β Mercer Football (@MercerFootball) August 30, 2025
The Bears get the football back!!@AndrewZock1 Jump on the fumbled snap and Mercer is back in business!#WeDoverMe pic.twitter.com/nerT26QDG5
β Mercer Football (@MercerFootball) November 15, 2025

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