The Bronco Nagurski Award has been handed out since 1999 and has become the premier defensive award in college football.
Cornerback Jabbar Muhammad and linebacker Jeffrey Bassa are both on the Nagurski Award watchlist for the 2024 season.
Muhammed is the newest Duck after making the rare transition from being a Washington Husky to an Oregon Duck. The Huskies’ loss will certainly be the Ducks’ gain as Muhammad was the top cornerback in the Pac-12 last season.
In Washington’s championship run, the senior corner had 46 tackles and three interceptions in his one and only season in Seattle. He also had 17 passes defended.
As for Bassa, the decorated Oregon linebacker goes from one of the top Pac-12 defenders to one of the best linebackers in the Big Ten. Last season, Bassa had 72 tackles, 3.5 for loss and one interception.
Notre Dame’s Xavier Watts won the award last season.
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