The Bronco Nagurski Trophy is given to the player who is considered the best defensively in college football. The 2017 watch list was announced Thursday.
Like the Bednarik Award, the Bronco Nagurski Trophy is given annually to the player who is considered the best defensively in college football.
On Thursday, the preseason watch list for the Bronco Nagurski Trophy was announced and there were some familiar names to make it. With so many elite defenders returning to college football for 2017, it’ll be tough for voters to pick just one winner.
Some of the names that stand out on the defensive line are Boston College’s Harold Landry, Ohio State’s Nick Bosa, Sam Hubbard and Tyquan Lewis, Washington’s Vita Vea, Clemson’s Dexter Lawrence and Christian Wilkins, Michigan’s Rashan Gary, Houston’s Ed Oliver, Alabama’s Da’Ron Payne and Florida State’s Josh Sweat and Derrick Nnadi.
As for linebackers, some of the top names are USC’s Cameron Smith, South Carolina’s Skai Moore, Notre Dame’s Nyles Morgan, Alabama’s Rashaan Evans, TCU’s Travin Howard, Texas’ Malik Jefferson, LSU’s Arden Key, Iowa’s Josey Jewell, Miami’s Shaquille Quarterman and Virginia’s Micah Kiser.
Lastly, the top defensive backs to be named are Minkah Fitzpatrick and Ronnie Harrison of Alabama, Louisville’s Jaire Alexander, Penn State’s Marcus Allen, Virginia’s Quin Blanding, Washington’s Taylor Rapp, Stanford’s Quenton Meeks, USC’s Iman Marshall, Texas A&M’s Armani Watts, Oklahoma’s Jordan Thomas and Florida State’s Derwin James.
The ACC led all conferences with 20 selections to the watch list, followed by 16 from the Big Ten and 14 from the SEC. The Pac-12 had 13 and the Big 12 was in last place out of the Power Five programs, not surprisingly, with 11.
Next: NFL Mock Draft 2018: Way-too-early edition
Last year’s winner of the trophy was Jonathan Allen from Alabama who went on to get selected No. 17 overall by the Redskins in the 2017 NFL Draft. Who’s next?