#33 Cam Buffington Season 2026-27

2026 Honors -- Dick Butkus Award Semifinalist... Lott IMPACT Trophy Player of the Week (Week 2) for his performance vs. Iowa State... Iowa's Men's Student Athlete of the Month for October... one of two sophomores named to 2026 Player Council... 2026 -- Started all eight games at linebacker... leads team with 70 tackles (39 solo, 31 assists), including eight tackles for a loss of 26 yards and three QB sacks for 19 yards, and four QB pressures on the season... ranks second in the Big Ten in total tackles (70) and solo tackles (39), and sixth in assists (31)... ranks 14th in the nation in solo tackles per game (4.88)... led team with a career-high 15 tackles (career-high nine solo, career-high six assists) in 16-13 win over Iowa State... 15 tackles was the most in a single game since 2024 (Jay Higgins)... recorded 11 tackles (six solo, five assists) in 20-19 come-frome-behind win at #18 Michigan... one of three Hawkeyes to record double-digit tackles at Michigan (Zach Lutmer-12, Landyn Van Kekerix-10), for the first time in program history since 2024 at Washington (Jay Higgins-14, Nick Jackson-11, Xavier Nwankpa-10)... recorded 10 tackles (eight solo, two assists), including 1.5 tackles for a loss of three yards, and rushed once for four yards in 10-13 loss at Minnesota... collected eight tackles (six solo, two assists), including his first two QB sacks for 14 yards, in 41-24 win at Washington... led team with eight tackles (three solo, five assists), including 1.5 tackles for a loss of five yards and one QB sack for five yards, and one QB pressure in 30-0 shutout vs. Wisconsin... led team with six tackles (four solo, two assists), including a career-high two tackles for a loss of three yards) and his first career QB pressure in 55-0 shutout over UNI... led team with six tackles (four solo, two assists), including one tackle for a loss of one yard, in 40-0 season-opening shutout vs. Northern Illinois...matched a career high with six assisted tackles and recorded a career-high two QB pressures in 14-31 loss to #5/6 Ohio State.

2025 Honors -- Academic All-Big Ten. 2025 -- Played in six games... recorded a season-high four solo tackles in 37-0 shutout at Wisconsin... recorded first career solo tackle in 47-7 win over UMass... collected two tackles (one solo, one assist), and his first career interception for a 26-yard return and his first career pass break-up in 41-3 win over Minnesota... letterwinner.

2024 Honors -- Team Leader Award, defense and special teams... Dean's List student (2024 fall). 2024 -- Did not see any game action.

 

 

High School Honors -- Earned first-team all-district all four years… recognized as first-team all-state as a senior and second-team all-state as a junior… earned third-team all-state as a freshman and sophomore… defensive team MVP as a senior… three-time team captain… earned basketball all-conference recognition three times and all-district honors once. Career -- Four-year football letterman… played linebacker and running back in high school… high school team went 11-1 and advanced to the state semifinals as a senior… holds school’s single-season records in rushing yards, carries, rushing touchdowns, receiving yards and touchdowns, total tackles and solo tackles… holds school career records in points scored, rushing attempts, rushing yards and touchdowns, total and solo tackles…. amassed 1,362 rushing yards, 613 receiving yards, 36 touchdowns and 106.5 tackles as a senior… totaled 1,484 rushing yards, 264 receiving yards, 34 touchdowns and 95.5 tackles as a junior… registered 1,028 yards rushing, 36 touchdowns and 55 tackles as a sophomore… posted 956 rushing yards, 19 touchdowns and 50.5 tackles as a freshman… also earned four letters in basketball and track… state long jump champion.

Personal -- Born 6/16/2005… enterprise leadership major… parents are Ross and Stacey Buffington… has a younger sister (Kynlee)… Honor Roll… member of the National Honor Society… high school coach was Scott McCarty.