Kingston, R.I. — Two of Rhode Island Football’s brightest stars are garnering national attention ahead of the 2025 season, with linebacker A.J. Pena and wide receiver Marquis Buchanan named to the Stats Perform FCS National Awards preseason watch lists, the organization announced this week.
Pena, a senior linebacker and returning Stats Perform First Team All-American, was named to the Buck Buchanan Award watch list on Wednesday. The award, named for Hall of Famer Junious “Buck” Buchanan, is presented annually to the top defensive player in Division I FCS college football.
Buchanan, a redshirt junior wide receiver, earned a spot on the Walter Payton Award watch list on Tuesday. Often referred to as the “Heisman of the FCS,” the award honors the nation’s top offensive player at the Division I FCS level and is named after NFL legend Walter Payton.
Together, Pena and Buchanan represent a dynamic duo on opposite sides of the ball and are key returners for a Rhode Island program that captured the CAA Football Championship in 2024.
Coming off a dominant 2024 campaign, Pena solidified his reputation as one of the most disruptive defenders in the country. He ranked seventh nationally in tackles for loss (22.5) and 10th in sacks (12.5), forcing opponents to lose over 100 total yards over the course of the season. He also added 82 tackles across 14 starts, extending his streak of consecutive starts to 21 games.
Pena enters his senior season ranked second all-time in Rhode Island history in both sacks (27) and tackles for loss (44.5). He recorded at least one tackle for loss in 11 of the Rams’ 14 games last season, highlighting his consistency and impact.
With his ability to pressure quarterbacks and stuff the run, Pena is not only a key defensive leader for the Rams but is also drawing attention from professional scouts as a potential NFL prospect.
On the offensive side, Buchanan is coming off a breakout year in which he caught 82 passes for 1,124 yards—the eighth-highest total in the nation—and eight touchdowns, helping power a high-octane Rams offense. The Providence native topped the 100-yard mark in four separate games and became just the eighth player in program history to record a 1,000-yard receiving season.
Buchanan enters the 2025 season ranked 10th all-time in URI history in receiving yards (1,762) and is on pace to climb even higher in the record books. A 2024 Stats Perform Second Team All-American, he is expected to be one of the top wide receivers in the FCS this fall.
The Buck Buchanan and Walter Payton Awards are among the most prestigious honors in college football at the FCS level. Past winners include NFL standouts such as Jared Allen, Steve McNair, Tony Romo, and Cooper Kupp. Both awards will be presented at the Stats Perform FCS National Awards Banquet on January 3, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn.
All 13 FCS conferences are represented on this year’s watch lists, which include a combined total of 60 players. Additional names may be added throughout the season, with finalists chosen by a national media panel following the conclusion of regular season play.
The announcement of Pena and Buchanan continues to raise Rhode Island’s national profile, as the Rams aim to build on the success of their championship season and make a run deep into the FCS playoffs.
Rhode Island’s presence on both the offensive and defensive watch lists highlights the depth, talent, and championship potential of this year’s squad. As the 2025 season approaches, all eyes will be on Pena and Buchanan to lead the Rams to even greater heights.