Buchanan has excellent teachers in his room, including new Linebackers Coach Tyler Santucci and Smith. Buchanan said it's been a blessing that Smith has taken him under his wing. At the same time, the California native isn't looking at his rookie campaign like a redshirt learning season. He's trying to get up to speed fast.
"Physically, I feel like I can compete and run with guys. I have the tools to do that," Buchanan said. "The main thing I've been focused on is the mental side of the game.
"I'm just trying to focus on the day-to-day. I just control what I can control, show up every day, and do what I can do. Whatever that leads to, that's really out of my hands, ultimately. For me, it's about focusing on the process and just letting the result take care of itself."
The rookie brings a unique perspective as a former high school quarterback who wanted to stay under center until he got his first college offer as a linebacker. He feels that gives him a better understanding of what he can do to make life difficult for quarterbacks, especially when dropping into coverage.
But Buchanan's greatest assets may be his athleticism and drive. He's been lifting weights with his father since he was around 11 years old and was doing push-ups at 6. [His massive quad muscles](https://x.com/HoodieRamey/status/1932156209278431509) are a testament to his work in the weight room.
Partly because he was a high school quarterback, Buchanan didn't get much recruiting attention and landed at UC-Davis after being offered a preferred walk-on spot at his hometown (and preferred) school of Cal. Buchanan played four seasons at UC-Davis, then went on to have an explosive final college season at Cal, proving he could still play at a high level despite the jump in competition level.