STEPHENVILLE, Texas — It didn't take long for Tarleton State Football Preseason All-American DeAndre Buchannon to make his mark.
 
Buchannon was named the United Athletic Conference Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday following his standout debut for the Texans on Saturday.
 
At kick returner, Buchannon covered 76 yards on two returns, including a 45-yard return, in Tarleton State's season-opening 49-30 win over Prairie View A&M.
 
Buchannon is a Preseason All-American at kick returner, and showed why right away, returning the opening kickoff 31 yards, then returning it 45 yards in the second quarter. Buchannon had the third most kick return yards in a game across the FCS this weekend. Buchannon is the UAC's leading kick returner already, averaging 38.0 yards per return (next closest at 25.3).
 
The No. 5 Texans started the season 1-0, winning in front of a Memorial Stadium-record crowd of 24,481 fans. The Texans have now won five straight season-openers and six straight home openers.
 
Other UAC awards announced on Monday were Central Arkansas' Donovyn Omolo as Offensive Player of the Week, West Florida's Byron Puryear as Defensive Player of the Week, and North Alabama's Xavier Johnson as Freshman of the Week.
 
2026 Tarleton State FB UAC Player of the Week Awards:
Week 0, Special Teams – DeAndre Buchannon