POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – Sophomore safety Nate Robinson Jr. of the Marist University football team was named a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, which honors the Defensive Player of the Year in the Football Championship Subdivision.
 
A year after being named a Freshman All-American, Robinson turned in a spectacular 2025 season. He ranks sixth in the FCS in passes defended (15 total, 1.25 per game), with 11 pass break-ups and four interceptions. His 15 passes defended were the most by a Red Fox in a season since 2002. Robinson was named FCS & PFL Defensive Player of the Week after tallying a career-high 10 tackles and two interceptions in a victory at Wagner on Sept. 13. He led a secondary that allowed just 56 yards passing in the game, the fewest allowed by Marist since 2007.
 
Robinson continued his standout play with four pass break-ups in a victory vs. San Diego on Oct. 4. He became the first Red Fox to break up four passes in a game since 2018. This performance was in the midst of a three-game stretch in which he broke up eight passes. On the year, he also totaled 64 tackles, one-and-a-half tackles for loss, and a fumble recovery.
 
Robinson is the second Red Fox to be named a finalist for an FCS major award this season. On Monday, Chase Hatton was named a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award, which honors the nation's top freshman.
 
Robinson is one of just two true sophomores among the 30 finalists.
 
The Buck Buchanan Award is in its 31^st season, and it is named for Grambling State defensive lineman Junious "Buck" Buchanan. Past winners include Dexter Coakley, Rashean Mathis, and Jared Allen. This year's winner will be announced at the Stats Perform FCS National Awards Show on Saturday, Jan. 3 in Nashville, Tennessee.
 
2025 Buck Buchanan Award Finalists
Defensive Linemen
Lando Brown, Southern Utah, R-Sr. 
Theron Gaines, Tennessee Tech, Sr.
Robert Holz, Gardner-Webb, Sr.
Quincy Ivory, Jackson State, Sr.
Kaleb Proctor, Southeastern Louisiana, Sr.
Jacob Psyk, UC Davis, Grad
Joshua Stoneking, Furman, R-So.
Andrew Zock, Mercer, So.
Linebackers
Sean Allison, Drake, Sr.
Luke Banbury, William & Mary, Grad
James Conway, Fordham, Grad
Shane Hartzell, Villanova, Sr.
David Hoage, West Georgia, Grad
Erick Hunter, Morgan State, Sr.
Logan Kopp, North Dakota State, R-Sr.
Rashon Myles Jr., Abilene Christian, Jr.
Tye Niekamp, Illinois State, Jr.
Tyler Ochojski, Lehigh, Sr.
A.J. Pena, Rhode Island, Sr.
Jaydon Southard, Stephen F. Austin, Sr.
Jack Stoll, Central Connecticut State, Sr.
Defensive Backs
Nate Robinson Jr., Marist, So.
Ty Bartrum, Harvard, Sr.
Kimal Clark, Indiana State, Sr.
Caden Dowler, Montana State, Jr.
Jalen Jones, William & Mary, Sr.
Abu Kamara, Yale, Jr.
Kasyus Kurns, Tarleton State, Sr.
Maximus Pulley, Wofford, 5th Year
Jarod Washington, South Carolina State, Sr.