Coutras named to Stats Perform Buck Buchanan Award preseason watch list
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – With the 2025 football season on the horizon, Tennessee Tech graduate defensive back Tim Coutras finds himself among elite company as the Golden Eagle standout was named to the preseason Buck Buchanan Award watch list on Wednesday. The Stats Perform-sponsored award, which honors the Football Championship Subdivision’s top defensive player at the end of the season, is named after legendary defensive lineman Junious “Buck” Buchanan, who had an illustrious career at Grambling State before becoming a Hall of Famer.
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – With the 2025 football season on the horizon, Tennessee Tech graduate defensive back Tim Coutras finds himself among elite company as the Golden Eagle standout was named to the preseason Buck Buchanan Award watch list on Wednesday.
The Stats Perform-sponsored award, which honors the Football Championship Subdivision's top defensive player at the end of the season, is named after legendary defensive lineman Junious "Buck" Buchanan, who had an illustrious career at Grambling State before becoming a Hall of Famer.
Past Buck Buchanan Award winners include Dexter Coakley, Rashean Mathis, Jared Allen and last year's winner – Central Arkansas' David Walker.
The inaugural list has representatives from all 13 FCS conferences and seven past finalists. Coutras and UT Martin defensive back JaMichael McGoy both represent the OVC/Big South in the first round of candidates.
The full preseason watch list can be found here. Watch lists will continue throughout the season and the recipient will be announced at the Stats Perform National Awards Presentation on January 3 in Nashville – the site of the 2026 FCS National Championship.
Coutras finished the 2024 season with 59 total tackles – 46 solo and 13 assisted – with three tackles-for-loss for 12 yards. He also forced two fumbles, intercepted three passes for 30 yards and broke up eight passes.
He had a season-best seven tackles twice last year against Western Illinois and Samford, broke up three passes against South Carolina State and had a 28-yard interception return against Charleston Southern.
Coutras was named last week to Sports Illustrated's FCS Football Central Preseason All-American team as well as the PhilSteele.com OVC/Big South Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, preseason first-team, and second-team Preseason All-America team rosters. The Nolensville product has also been named to the Stats Perform Preseason All-America second-team roster and the OVC/Big South Preseason Defensive Players to Watch list.
The Golden Eagles open the season on August 30 against Cumberland for the first of seven home games this season at Tucker Stadium as Tech looks to win the OVC-Big South title outright.
Season tickets for Golden Eagle Football are on sale now – call (931) 372-3940, visit the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office or order online at TTUsports.com.
