Tag: Bronko Nagurski

Billy Bowman, Danny Stutsman named to Nagurski Trophy Watch List

Billy Bowman and Danny Stutsman named to Bronko Nagurski watch list

With all of the hype surrounding them as they head into their final seasons as Oklahoma Sooners, it should be no surprise that [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag] and [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] are receiving national love from preseason watch lists.

Stutsman and Bowman have earned lots of love this offseason as they help Oklahoma prepare for its inaugural SEC season. They were named to the preseason All-SEC 1st team voted on by the media, and the accolades and preseason honors haven’t stopped.

On Tuesday, the duo was named to the 2024 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List, which honors the nation’s best defensive player.

 

Bowman’s ball-hawking skills should serve him well. Three pick-six touchdowns accompanied his six interceptions last year, making him a name to watch as we enter this season. Bowman was quite confident at SEC Media Days that he would have better numbers this season.

Stutsman was 15th in tackles for loss last season, averaging 1.3 per game. He was Oklahoma’s lifeblood and the team’s leader. He was named a second-team Walter Camp All-American and a third-team AP All-American while tallying over 100 tackles for the second straight year. He will look to take steps forward as a leader and become a more complete linebacker as Oklahoma readies for the SEC.

The watch list roster includes last year’s winner, Xavier Watts of Notre Dame, plus five other players returning from last season’s FWAA All-America team. Watts was the first defensive back to win the award since Oklahoma’s Derrick Strait and the first safety since Sooners legend Roy Williams.

Oklahoma’s selections were part of a conference-leading 19 selections to the SEC’s SEC list, surpassing all other conferences. By position, the list includes 22 linebackers, 16 defensive ends, 16 safeties, 12 defensive tackles, and nine cornerbacks. The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce finalists for the 2024 trophy on Nov. 20, and the winner will be unveiled on Dec. 9 at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet in Charlotte, N.C.

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Bears legends Walter Payton, Gale Sayers named to NFL 100’s All-Time Team

Two Hall of Fame Bears running backs were named to the NFL’s All-Time Team.

As the NFL continues its celebration of its centennial season, they’re continuing to honor some of the greatest moments and players of the last 100 years.

It’s no surprise that two Chicago Bears — Walter Payton and Gale Sayers — were named to the team, considering their two of the best to ever play the game. But two other Bears Hall of Fame running backs, Bronko Nagurski and Red Grange, didn’t make the list.

Payton was among two running backs named unanimously to the All-Time team (Jim Brown was the other). Both Payton and Sayers also made the 75th edition of the All-Time list.

The 10 other running backs named to the NFL’s All-Time Team included Jim Brown, Earl Campbell, Dutch Clark, Erick Dickerson, Lenny Moore, Marion Motley, Barry Sanders, O.J. Simpson, Emmitt Smith and Steve Van Buren.