Tag: Bronko Nagurski Trophy

Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts wins Bronko Nagurski Trophy

X won it!!!!

Not many expected Notre Dame football safety [autotag]Xavier Watts[/autotag] to have a huge year, but it was a pleasant surprise for Irish fans.

The senior would lead the country in interceptions with seven, also causing and recovering a fumble. Tack on 47 total tackles, and that’s quite the season for a safety.

It was more than enough to get the attention of the [autotag]Bronko Nagurski Trophy[/autotag] committee, because on Monday night, Watts won the award. The award goes out annually to the best defensive player in college football, and he becomes the first Notre Dame player to win the award since linebacker [autotag]Manti Te’o[/autotag] in 2012.

A massive honor for Watts, who came into the program as a wide receiver. It’s safe to say that the position switch paid off. Congrats Xavier!

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Notre Dame football safety Xavier Watts a finalist for Bronko Nagurski Trophy

The best defender in the nation could ultimately reside in South Bend

The nations interception leader, Notre Dame safety [autotag]Xavier Watts[/autotag], has turned in an extremely impressive senior campaign.

He is fourth on the team in tackles, obviously first in interceptions, and has battled away four other passes. That kind of effort will surely get some nation notice today Watts was named a finalist to the [autotag]Bronko Nagurski Trophy[/autotag].

The award is given out annually to the best defensive player in college football. It’s a surprise to many that Watts has performed at this high of a level, but a welcome one.

Career highs all across the board for Watts, in what has become a season to remember.

Rounding out the rest of the nominees are Iowa safety Cooper DeJean, Illinois defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton, Georgia safety Malaki Starks, and NC State linebacker Payton Wilson.

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Notre Dame’s Xavier Watts gets national recognition for 2-pick game against Pittsburgh

Congrats Xavier! More to come!

When you have a player that records two interceptions like [autotag]Notre Dame football[/autotag] safety [autotag]Xavier Watts[/autotag] did against Pittsburgh, it’s sure to gain some national attention.

The NCAA leader in picks was recognized by the [autotag]Bronko Nagurski Trophy[/autotag] as it’s national defensive player of the week, the second week in-a-row he’s been recognized for a national award. It wasn’t just the two takeaways that impressed, it was the fact that Watts also had three tackles as well.

On the year, the Irish senior has 39 tackles, 6 interceptions with a forced fumble and recovery. Watts has been an extremely bright spot for a Notre Dame defense that is statistically one of the best in the country. His efforts have helped the Irish rank 10th nationally in scoring defense.

Congrats Xavier!

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Three Ohio State players on the Bronko Nagurski watch list

In case you missed it, three Buckeyes appeared on the 2023 Bronko Nagurski watch list. #GoBucks

We continue the march of the college football preseason watch lists with the announcement for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy that goes to the best defensive player in the country annually. The first installment of the trophy was handed out in 1993 by the Football Writers Association of America and has continued ever since.

Of the 94 names appearing on the 2023 watch list, three of them are Ohio State players. Defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau, linebacker Tommy Eichenberg, and safety Lathan Ransom — three of OSU’s seasoned leaders — were all recognized.

It says a lot that all three of these guys represent three different spots on the football field. If each has a season as everyone expects, that would mean a pretty special player on the defensive line, middle of the field at linebacker, and on the back end.

There have been two Ohio State players take the award home. Linebacker James Laurinaitis did it in 2006, and game-wrecking edge rusher, Chase Young, took the award home in 2019. We’ll continue to keep you up to speed on all the Buckeyes that make these preseason watch lists.

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Cedric Gray named to preseason watch list for Bronko Nagurski Trophy

North Carolina linebacker Cedric Gray was named to the preseason watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy.

North Carolina linebacker [autotag]Cedric Gray[/autotag] has been placed on the preseason watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy.

The decision came Tuesday, announced by the Football Writers Association of America. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is presented to who the committee deems as the best defensive player in the NCAA.

No player from UNC has ever won the reward, with Bradley Chubb being the last player from the ACC to receive the honor when he won in 2017 with NC State.

Last year, Gray was a bright spot on the lackluster defense, leading the team in tackles with 145. Gray also had a nose for turnovers last season, leading UNC in forced fumbles (3) and finishing second in interceptions (2).

This season, North Carolina will be fun, with notable players, such as Gray, Drake Maye, and Drew Little, already claiming watch lists.

The finalists of the Bronko Nagurski Trophy will be announced on Nov. 15th, with the winner being crowned on Dec. 4th.

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Michigan State football LB Cal Haladay named to Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list

Cal Haladay named to Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list, given to the top defensive player in the country

We did it. We finally made it to trophy watch list season, which means football is right around the corner. One of the first Spartans to be recognized on a trophy watch list this year is Michigan State football linebacker Cal Haladay, who was named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list.

The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is given to the nation’s top defensive player. 94 players were named to this year’s watch list.

Haladay has been a starter for MSU since his freshman year when he was named a freshman All-American by the Football Writers Association of America, The Athletic, and the Maxwell Football Club. Last year as a sophomore, Haladay was a second team All-Big Ten honoree.

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Georgia defender named as Bronko Nagurski Trophy finalist

A UGA football defensive back is turning the heads of NFL draft scouts thanks to some of his performances this season.

Georgia Bulldogs defense back Christopher Smith has been named one of four finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy. Smith, a senior, has 36 total tackles, one sack, two interceptions and five pass deflections.

No defense has allowed fewer touchdowns (10) than Georgia’s. It is second in the country in scoring defense, and Christopher Smith is a big reason. He seldom gets beat deep and is a strong run defender.

Smith returned to Georgia for another season to boost his NFL draft stock and to win another national championship. Smith has certainly has helped his 2023 NFL draft stock this season.

The senior made the midseason all-riser team for the Senior Bowl. Smith and true freshman Malaki Starks have played the safety position at an elite level for Georgia this year.

Additionally, the Nagurski Trophy named Alabama defensive end Will Anderson Jr., Pittsburgh defensive end Calijah Kancey, and USC defensive lineman Tuli Tuipulotu as finalists for the award.

Will Anderson Jr. has eight sacks, an interception, and 42 tackles for Alabama. Calijah Kancey has 30 tackles and seven sacks for Pittsburgh. Tuli Tuipulotu has 11.5 sacks and 32 tackles for USC.

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BJ Ojulari named to the preseason Nagurski Trophy watch list

The Nagurski Trophy is given to the top defender in college football, regardless of position.

LSU saw another player crack an award watch list on Tuesday as edge rusher [autotag]BJ Ojulari[/autotag] was one of 85 players named to the preseason watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which is given annually to the top defensive player in college football, regardless of position.

Ojulari enters his junior season with high expectations, and if he can stay healthy, he should be one of the best edge rushers in the SEC, if not the entire country.

After making an immediate impact in the rotation as a true freshman in 2020, Ojulari became a full-time starter last fall. He played in every game, leading the team in sacks with seven and finishing second in tackles for loss with 11.5. He’ll look to become the second LSU player to win the Nagurski Trophy, joining [autotag]Glenn Dorsey[/autotag] in 2007.

Ojulari enters his third season expected to take his play up a notch, and many see him as a potential first-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft. Playing next to [autotag]Ali Gaye[/autotag] should give the Tigers one of the best edge-rushing duos in the country as the defense hopes to take a leap forward in 2022 under new defensive coordinator [autotag]Matt House[/autotag].

LSU now has three players on preseason watch lists, with Ojulari joining [autotag]Kayshon Boutte[/autotag] and [autotag]Micah Baskerville[/autotag], who are on the lists for the Biletnikoff and Butkus awards, respectively. The full 85-man list for the Nagurski Trophy can be found here.

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Rumor: Freeman has found his linebackers coach in another former Buckeye

This would be a home run hire

Marcus Freeman is still putting together his staff and it seems like he has found his next linebackers coach in former Ohio State teammate James Laurinaitis. The “Little Animal” was a two-time defense player of the year in the Big Ten, a three-time consensus All-American, along with winning the Lott Trophy, Butkus Award and Bronko Nagurski Trophy.

His career was definitely decorated, playing in the NFL for 8 season as well before transitioning into the commentator booth. Freeman looks to have lured  his former Buckeye teammate back to the sidelines with him. This, in my estimation, would be another fantastic hire on Freeman’s staff that is looking like they will use their Buckeye ties to try and create what they had in Columbus during their playing tenure together.

Six Notre Dame players earn spot on Senior Bowl Watch List

Who could be headed to Mobile after the season?

The Senior Bowl always is a big deal for players who have just finished their eligibility to play college football. It often serves as a major showcase for any player hoping to get drafted by the NFL only a few months later. While we obviously have no clue who will be going to the 2022 game at this point, it’s fun to look at the players who have a chance. This year’s Senior Bowl Watch List has been released, and six Notre Dame players are on it: