NOTRE DAME, Indiana — Notre Dame senior linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah was selected as a finalist for the 2020 Bronko Nagurski Trophy honoring the national defensive player of the year. Owusu-Koramoah is one of five finalists, and is the third Irish player to earn that distinction, joining Manti Te’o (2012) and Shane Walton (2002). Te’o won the Nagurski Trophy in 2012.
A preseason All-ACC First Team selection, Owusu-Koramoah has totaled 49 tackles this season, which leads Notre Dame’s defense, also leading the team with 9.0 tackles-for-loss. He has been responsible for forcing multiple turnovers, including an interception, two fumble recoveries (one returned for a touchdown) and three forced fumbles this season. He has added three pass breakups.
His first-career interception came at Pitt, setting up a Notre Dame touchdown drive. In the win over then-No. 1 Clemson, Owusu-Koramoah posted nine tackles (seven solo), 0.5 sack, 2.0 TFL, one forced fumble and the fumble recovery touchdown, which was the first score of his career. Three plays later, he forced a Clemson fumble, which was also recovered by the Irish.
Owusu-Koramoah ranks tied for seventh among all FBS players with two fumble recoveries this season. He ranks fifth among all ACC players in forced fumbles (0.3 per game) and his 9.0 TFL tie for 16th-most in the ACC
Widely considered among the elite defensive players across the country regardless of position, Owusu-Koramoah is a Butkus Award, Bednarik Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy semifinalist, and now Nagurski Trophy finalist, he was named Nagurski Trophy and Bednarik Award Player of the Week, as well as ACC Linebacker of the Week, all for his performance against Clemson. At Pitt, Owusu-Koramoah was named to the Pro Football Focus Team of the Week.