Divine Buckrham: From High School Hero to Professional Football Player.

Divine Buckrham
Position: Safety	jersey number: 21
Birth date: December 5, 1999 Place of birth: North Baldwin, New York Size: 183 cm Weight: 89 kg
career information
Active: 2022–
Teams
2013–2016: The Kiski School Cougars 2017–2021: Lehigh Mountain Hawks 2021: Lamar Cardinals 2022: Potsdam Royals 2023: Saint Anthony Brahmas since 2023: Raiders Tirol
The career statistics
College 2017–2021: Games: 45 Tackles: 147 Pass-Break-ups: 11 Interception: 1
Career highlights and awards
College Conference Co-Champion (2017) Patriot League Award of Outstanding Leadership and Character (2021) Lehigh University Barry Fetterman Award (2021) GFL North Champion (2022)

Divine Buckrham (born December 5, 1999 in North Baldwin, New York) is an American football player at the defensive back position. He played college football for Lehigh University and Lamar University.

high school and college

Buckrham attended Kiski School in Saltsburg, Pennsylvania, where he captained the team for two years and also wrestled and tracked.^[1] During his four years at Kiski School, the Cougars consistently won the Centennial Cup against rival high school Mercersburg.^[2] At the end of his high school years, he represented an American team in a game in China against the local football club of Shanghai. He was named Offensive MVP.^[3][4]

In 2017, Buckrham signed for Lehigh University from the NCAA Division I FCS. Having previously played on both offense and defense, he was only used in the secondary for the Mountain Hawks. Already in his rookie season he could recommend himself for the starting lineup and was seeded in the position of the rover for the last five games. That year, the Mountain Hawks became co-champions of the Patriot League. From the 2019 season, Buckrham ran on as a safety. In his senior season, which was postponed to spring 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Buckrham served as the team’s captain but only played in the first game due to injury. Overall, he recorded 95 tackles and three pass breaks in 34 games for the Mountain Hawks. In 2021 he received several awards. First, he was honored with the Patriot League’s Award of Outstanding Leadership and Character,^[5] he received the Barry Fetterman Award from his university for his loyalty, selflessness and dedication to Lehigh football.^[6] Also receiving are the James J. Duane III Student Life Leadership Award, the Ujima Award as well as the Student Senate Leadership Award.^[7]

For the 2021 season, Buckrham traded to Lamar University, also based in the NCAA Division I FCS. There he was an integral part of the Cardinals’ defense with 52 tackles, an interception and eight pass breakups in eleven games.

Professional Career

In May 2022, Buckrham attended a Pittsburgh Steelers rookie minicamp but was not subsequently signed.^[1] He had previously signed a contract with the Potsdam Royals from the German Football League (GFL). He appeared in 12 games for the Royals, helping the team to the Northern Championship with 73 tackles, three interceptions and seven pass breakups.^[8] In the German Bowl they lost to the Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns.

Buckrham was on the San Antonio Brahmas roster for the 2023 XFL season.^[9] He was used in six games.^[10] Shortly after the conclusion of the regular XFL season, he was introduced by the Raiders Tirol from the European League of Football (ELF).^[11]

Buckrham has two brothers and two sisters. In addition to English, he also speaks Chinese.^[3][12]

• Divine Buckrham on the website of Lamar University (English)
• Divine Buckrham on the website of Lehigh University (English)
• Divine Buckrham on the stats page of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (English)

1. ↑ ^{a b} Alan Saunders: Steelers Invite Kiski School Alum, DB Divine Buckrham to Rookie Camp. In: steelersnow.com. 11. May 2022, accessed May 15, 2023 (American English).
2. ↑ Centennial Cup. In: kiski.org. Retrieved May 15, 2023 (American English).
3. ↑ ^{a b} Divine Buckrham: Divine Buckrham ’17 Visits China. In: kiski.org. 21. April 2017, accessed May 15, 2023 (American English).
4. ↑ Team Stars & Stripes win Global Ambassadors Bowl in Shanghai, China. In: americanfootballinternational.com. 10. April 2017, accessed May 15, 2023 (American English).
5. ↑ Divine Buckrham Receives Patriot League Award of Outstanding Leadership and Character. In: lehighsports.com. July 16, 2021, accessed May 15, 2023 (American English).
6. ↑ Lehigh Football Announces Team Awards For Spring 2021 Season. In: lehighsports.com. 13. May 2021, accessed May 15, 2023 (American English).
7. ↑ 2021 Award Recipients. In: studentaffairs.lehigh.edu. Retrieved May 15, 2023 (American English).
8. ↑ 2022 GFL Stats Potsdam Royals. In: stats.gfl.info. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
9. ↑ Tristin McKinstry: San Antonio Brahmas Finalize 51-Man Roster. In: xflnewshub.com. February 10, 2023 accessed May 15, 2023 (American English).
10. ↑ Divine Buckrham. In: xfl.com. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
11. ↑ Chris Hahn: Raiders sign former XFL defensive back Divine Buckrham. In: europeanleague.football. 4. May 2023, accessed May 15, 2023 (English).
12. ↑ Divine Buckrham. In: europlayers.com. Retrieved May 15, 2023 (American English).