CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard Football senior defensive back Damien Henderson has been named to the 2026 Buck Buchanan Award Preseason Watch List, Stats Perform announced today. The honor, which comes one day after he landed on the Stats Perform Preseason All-America Second Team, is presented annually to the national defensive player of the year in Division I FCS college football. Henderson, meanwhile, is one of two players from the Ivy League to be recognized and one of 30 nationally.
 
A native of Tampa, Florida, Henderson enters his final campaign in Cambridge having played in all 31 games in his career and won three Ivy League championships, including last year's effort which propelled the Crimson to its first NCAA FCS Playoff bid. The 2023 Freshman All-American is also a two-time All-Ivy performer and three-time Phil Steele All-Ivy selection.
 
Henderson's junior season, which saw Harvard rise to as high as No. 7 nationally in the Stats Perform Top 25, featured 46 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one fumble recovery, two interceptions, two quarterback hurries and six pass breakups. His two picks were tied for the most on the team, while his PBU and tackle numbers ranked second and fourth, respectively.
 
The award, in its 32nd 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; Mercer's Andrew Zock was the 2025 winner.
 
Harvard will open the 2026 campaign on Sept. 19, when it faces 2025 NCAA Playoff participant New Hampshire on the road. After playing at Brown the following week (Sept. 25), the Crimson will make its home debut on Oct. 3, vs. Colgate. Season tickets and single-game tickets for the 2026 home schedule are available at GoCrimson.com.