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Bridgewater, NJ — Central Connecticut senior linebacker Jack Stoll (Lafayette, NJ/Pope John XXII) is one of 30 finalists for the 2025 Buck Buchanan Award, Stats Perform announced on Tuesday.

Presented to the national defensive player of the year in Division I FCS college football, the award, which is in its 31st season, is named for legendary defensive lineman Junious “Buck” Buchanan, who starred at Grambling State as part of his Hall of Fame career. Past Buchanan recipients include Dexter Coakley, Rashean Mathis and Jared Allen. Central Arkansas’ David Walker was last season’s winner.

On the heels of a star-studded 2024 campaign that landed him All-NEC First Team distinction, Stoll put together another healthy season for Central Connecticut, which claimed the NEC regular season crown for the second-straight year in 2025.
 
In 12 games, the senior racked up 14 solo and 50 assisted stops to lead the Blue Devils 86 tackles. In addition, the Lafayette, NJ native produced team-best numbers in tackles-for-loss (15.5) while adding one pass breakup and one block. 
 
Among NEC leaders, Stoll is tied for third in tackles per game (7.2) and is second in tackles-for-loss.
 
Stoll ultimately saved Central Connecticut’s season in a defensive slugfest with LIU on Nov. 1. With the potential game-tying field goal lined up for the Sharks in the closing seconds of regulation, he hurdled over the line and blocked the kick to preserve the Blue Devils’ 10-7 lead and seal the win. Stoll finished with 12 tackles and 2.5 tackles-for-loss against the Sharks, both of which tied season-best marks.
 
He claimed NEC/Atlantic Tomorrow’s Office Defensive Player of the Week distinction following that huge outing. 
 
With that win, the Blue Devils claimed the NEC regular season title outright with a 6-1 record against league competitors to earn the league’s AQ to the NCAA FCS Playoffs for the second-straight year.