Bronko Nagurski Trophy reveals 2017 preseason watch list

by | Jul 13, 2017 | Headlines, RRSN News | 0 comments

Bronko Nagurski Trophy reveals 2017 preseason watch list

FWAA
Last Updated – Jul 13, 2017 10:32 EDT

DALLAS (FWAA) — The 2017 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List boasts 103 defensive standouts from all 10 Division I FBS conferences, including four returning players from last season’s Football Writers Association of America All-America team.

Christian Wilkins, a defensive tackle for defending national champion Clemson, and Florida State defensive back Tarvarus McFadden are the only 2016 FWAA first-teamers on the list. Two other 2016 second-teamers – Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver and Virginia linebacker Micah Kiser – are included along with NIU defensive back Shawun Lurry, a 2015 First-Team FWAA All-America player.

The Atlantic Coast Conference led all conferences with 20 players on the watch list, followed by the Big Ten (16), SEC (14), Pac-12 (13), Big 12 (11), American Athletic (10), Sun Belt (6), Mountain West (5), Independents (3), Mid-American (3) and Conference USA (2). The list includes 30 defensive backs, 29 linebackers, 25 defensive ends and 19 defensive tackles, all vying for the award representing college football’s best defensive player.

Players may be added or removed from the watch list during the course of the season. As in previous seasons, the FWAA will announce a National Defensive Player of the Week each Tuesday throughout the season. If not already on the watch list, each week’s honored player will be added at that time. The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce five finalists for the 2017 Bronko Nagurski Trophy on Thurs., Nov. 16.

The Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner will be chosen from those five finalists. The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the association’s full membership, selects a 26-man All-America Team and eventually the Nagurski Trophy finalists. Committee members, by individual ballot, select the winner they regard as the best defensive player in college football.

The annual Bronko Nagurski Trophy Banquet, presented by ACN, will be held on Mon., Dec. 4 at the Charlotte Convention Center. In addition to the 2017 Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner’s announcement, the banquet will also celebrate the recipient of the Bronko Nagurski Legends Award, sponsored by the CTC and Florida East Coast Railway. Notre Dame’s Ross Browner, a member of the FWAA’s 1976 and 1977 All-America Teams, the 1976 Outland Trophy winner and a College Football Hall of Famer, will be honored. Georgia head coach Kirby Smart will be the keynote speaker at the banquet.

The FWAA has chosen a National Defensive Player of the Year since 1993. In 1995, the FWAA named the award in honor of the legendary two-way player from the University of Minnesota. Nagurski dominated college football, then became a star for professional football’s Chicago Bears in the 1930s. Bronislaw “Bronko” Nagurski is a charter member of both the College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame.

The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football’s most prestigious awards. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 23 awards now boast over 800 recipients, dating to 1935. Visit ncfaa.org to learn more about our story.

Related Stories

Valpo Football Welcomes First Signing Class of Andy Waddle Era

Valpo Football Welcomes First Signing Class of Andy Waddle Era The Valparaiso University football program has announced the signing of 31 student-athletes, who will continue their academic and athletic endeavors at Valpo, the first recruiting class of the Andy Waddle...

COLLEGE HOCKEY: OHIO STATE AT NOTRE DAME

By JOHN FINERAN After two weekends away, Notre Dame returns to the Big Ten Conference hockey wars this Friday and Saturday when No. 9/11 Ohio State visits the Compton Family Ice Arena for a two-game series. Both teams are coming off series splits. WHEN: Friday, Feb. 7...

VU’s Wright Delivers Big Game in Setback at Indiana State

Wright Delivers Big Game in Setback at Indiana State Valparaiso University men’s basketball freshman All Wright (Durango, Mexico / Link Year) turned in the highest known scoring output ever achieved by a Valpo rookie by tallying 32 points, but the Beacons fell 80-62...

IUSB WBB races past Calumet

SOUTH BEND, Ind.- The Indiana University South Bend Titans (16-6, 9-6 CCAC) defeated the Calumet College of Saint Joseph Crimson Wave (2-21, 0-15 CCAC) by a final score of 111-31 to snap their two game skid and mark their biggest victory of the season. The first half...

IUSB men’s basketball falls to CCSJ in final moments

SOUTH BEND, Ind.- The Indiana University South Bend Titans (13-10, 10-5 CCAC) lost their CCAC match up to the Calumet College of Saint Joseph Crimson Wave (13-9, 8-7 CCAC) by a final score of 84-82, snapping their four game winning streak. Even at 10-10 five minutes...

Bethel Men’s Volleyball falls short of reverse sweep at Trine

ANGOLA, Ind.--- In the first road match of the season, the Bethel Pilots (3-2) fall short of a reverse sweep over the Trine Thunder (6-4) on the road (18-25, 29-31, 25-22, 25-19, 13-15) on Tuesday night. After the 7-7 tie in the first set, the Thunder went on an 8-2...

Indiana’s Garzon Named To 2025 Cheryl Miller Award Top 10

Garzon Named To 2025 Cheryl Miller Award Top 10   SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Indiana women’s basketball junior guard Yarden Garzon has been named to the 2025 Cheryl Miller Award Top 10, announced by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and Women’s Basketball Coaches...