Tennessee State defensive end Terrell Allen won the 2023 Buck Buchanan Award as the best defensive player in FCS football, beating out fellow top-three finalists Dylan Kelly (UAlbany) and Billy Shaeffer (Lafayette). Allen is the first Tennessee State player to win the award in its 29-year history and the sixth HBCU player to win the award.
BUCHANAN AWARD: Complete history of the top FCS defensive honor
Allen received the Payton Award at a ceremony in Frisco, Texas, one day before the 2023-24 FCS Championship game. In 11 regular season games, the Tiger edge-defender led the FCS with 28 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks, adding on 65 tackles (44 solo), 10 quarterback hurries, five force fumbles and one fumble recovery.
The man is a monster‼️
— Tennessee State Football (@TSUTigersFB) October 28, 2023
Terrell Allen comes up with back-to-back sacks, forcing a fumble that is recovered by the Tigers!#RoarCity x #GUTS pic.twitter.com/KimmQRlu4j
Allen is the 13th defensive end to win the Buchanan Award — the second-most of any position — since the award debuted in 1995. Allen is the third HBCU edge-rusher in four seasons to take home the premier defensive award in the FCS.
Terrell Allen comes up with his 4⃣th sack of the afternoon‼️💪🏿#RoarCity x #GUTS pic.twitter.com/qJw7TjeoMN
— Tennessee State Football (@TSUTigersFB) October 28, 2023
As the 2023 Buck Buchanan Award winner, Allen joins an elite fraternity of FCS greats like Dexter Coakley (Appalachian State, 1995-96), Rashean Mathis (Bethune-Cookman, 2002), Jared Allen (Idaho State, 2003) and more.
MORE AWARDS: Walter Payton Award history | Jerry Rice Award history
Top moments
See some more of Allen's top moments from 2023 below.
Solo dolo for TA 💪🏿#RoarCity x #GUTS pic.twitter.com/U3D1lQB9XH
— Tennessee State Football (@TSUTigersFB) October 21, 2023
Say hello to Terrell Allen!
— Tennessee State Football (@TSUTigersFB) October 7, 2023
Allen with a big TFL on the Kennesaw State QB#RoarCity x #GUTS pic.twitter.com/OV3XkaFaKg
Terrell Allen comes up with a huge sack on 3rd down to force an NSU punt! pic.twitter.com/8yCn54Gcbr
— Tennessee State Football (@TSUTigersFB) October 14, 2023
Terrell Allen picks up sack No. 2 of the night‼️💪🏿#RoarCity x #GUTS pic.twitter.com/SadgTSAefQ
— Tennessee State Football (@TSUTigersFB) October 14, 2023
TA doing what he does best, sacking the QB!#RoarCity x #GUTS pic.twitter.com/nLRyVabnwT
— Tennessee State Football (@TSUTigersFB) October 28, 2023
Terrell Allen comes up with a huge sack that forces CSU to line up in punt formation‼️#RoarCity x #GUTS pic.twitter.com/27m70TpCbo
— Tennessee State Football (@TSUTigersFB) November 4, 2023
