NORMAL, Ill. — Illinois State senior linebacker Zeke Vandenburgh capped off his career with the Redbirds in stellar fashion, which has earned him a spot as one of 30 finalists for 2022 Buck Buchanan Award announced by Stats Perform on Tuesday. The Buck Buchanan Award is annually presented to the national defensive player of the year in college football's Division I FCS subdivision.
Vandenburgh becomes the first Redbird to be named a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award since 2013, when defensive end Colton Underwood finished in the Top 20 in the annual vote.