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<\/h3>\n<\/h3>\nThe Football Writers Association of America released its 2023 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List, selecting 94 defensive standouts from 69 schools in all 10 Division I FBS conferences plus Independents. The watch list roster includes three returning players from last season\u2019s FWAA All-America team, the top four tacklers from last season, the sack and interception leaders from 2022 and five secondary players who had at least six interceptions last year.<\/p>\n
The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce finalists for the 2023 trophy on Nov. 15 and the winner will be unveiled Dec. 4 at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet in Charlotte, N.C.<\/p>\n
Photo – <\/em><\/strong>DE Jared Verse, Florida State \u2013<\/em><\/strong> Joshua Bessex\/AP Photographer<\/strong><\/p>\n The trio of FWAA All-Americans top the list, each of them from the second team. Old Dominion linebacker Jason Henderson led all FBS players in tackles last year by a wide margin \u2013 his 15.5 tackles per game average was 4.2 tpc ahead of the second-best total. Ohio State linebacker Tommy Eichenberg, who averaged 9.2 tackles per game last season and helped the Buckeyes become the FBS\u2019s 14th-best team in total defense and thrust them into the College Football Playoff semifinals. Clemson\u2019s Tyler Davis is the third returning All-American plugging the middle of a Tigers\u2019 defense that was 13th nationally stopping the run giving up 102.7 ypg.<\/p>\n Davis is one of 13 defensive tackles on the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list, 10 of which are also on the preseason watch list for the Outland Trophy, also awarded by the FWAA and releasing its list today. Besides the defensive tackles, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy list includes 29 linebackers, 19 each of cornerbacks and safeties and 16 defensive ends.<\/p>\n Eichenberg is one of three Ohio State players on the list along with defensive end JT Tuimoloau and safety Lathan Ransom. Penn State, with one player from each segment of its defense in defensive end Chop Robinson, linebacker Abdul Carter and cornerback Kalen King, and Michigan, the same with defensive tackle Kris Jenkins in front of linebacker Junior Colson in front of safety Rod Moore, are nine of the Big Ten Conference\u2019s 15 players that tie the Southeastern Conference for the most from one conference.<\/p>\n The SEC has three players each from defending national champion Georgia and Alabama. Georgia defensive end Mykel Williams and safety Malaki Starks, both fresh off last season\u2019s FWAA Freshman All-America Team, join linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson for the Bulldogs. Also a Freshman All-American last season was Alabama linebacker Dallas Turner with teammate cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry and safety Malachi Moore joining him on the list. A quintet of Tigers \u2013 super sophomore linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. and Mekhi Wingo of LSU, cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine and linebacker Ty\u2019Ron Hopper of Missouri, and Auburn cornerback D.J. James \u2013 are others among the nine schools represented from the SEC. Kentucky defensive tackle Deone Walker is another returning Freshman All-American.<\/p>\n Frank Coyle is a long-time scout with nationwide ties with coaches, scouts and player agents. He is a long-time member of the FWAA and voter in College player awards \u2013 Heisman, Biletnikoff, Thorpe, Outland, Nagurski, Lombardi etc for the past 25 years. He writes College Football Mondays weekly during the season. He is a consultant to many NFL player agents related to all levels of preparation for the NFL Draft process. He was a longtime scouting consultant for the Senior Bowl, the nation\u2019s premier postseason All-star game. He does sports radio shows for ESPN, Fox Sports and Sporting News on a year-round basis related to College Football especially during the postseason team and All-star Bowl time. He has worked for CBS Sports, NBC Sports, Yahoo and Rivals sports publications and web sites.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Besides Davis, Clemson\u2019s other representatives are linebackers Barrett Carter and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. Florida State is expected to challenge for the Atlantic Coast Conference title supported by watch listers defensive end Jared Verse up front and cornerback Fentrell Cypress II in the secondary. Also from the ACC is North Carolina linebacker Cedric Gray, who was third nationally in tackles last season with 146, and Miami safety Kamren Kinchens, who tied for third in the FBS with six interceptions.<\/p>\n Cornerback Josh Newton of national runner-up TCU is at the forefront of the 11-man crew from the Big 12 that has one player from 11 of its now 14 schools, including new members Cincinnati with super sophomore defensive tackle Dontay Corleone and UCF linebacker Jason Johnson. Heading up the 10 players from the Pac-12 are two from Utah, safety Cole Bishop and defensive tackle Junior Tafuna, and UCLA defensive end Laiatu Latu, the top returning sack leader from a year ago with 10.5 sacks that tied for seventh nationally.<\/p>\n There are 14 schools which have two players on the list including Buffalo, which has linebacker Shaun Dolac, second behind ODU\u2019s Henderson in total tackles last season with 147 and an 11.3 tpc average, on the list joining safety Marcus Fuqua, whose seven interceptions tied for the national lead. Notre Dame\u2019s pair are linebacker JD Bertrand and cornerback Benjamin Morrison. Illinois bolsters the Big Ten\u2019s count with standout defensive linemen Jer\u2019Zhan Newton on the end and tackle Keith Randolph in the middle.<\/p>\n Defending American Athletic Conference champion Tulane and UTSA, a new member to the conference and a co-favorite with Tulane in the preseason, each have two players. Tulane defensive end Darius Hodges and cornerback Jarius Monroe are two of the AAC\u2019s six representatives along with linebacker Trey Moore and safety Rashad Wisdom from UTSA. Other schools with two players on the team are Marshall \u2013 safety Micah Abraham tied for third in the FBS with six interceptions last season \u2013 Oregon, Toledo and UTEP.<\/p>\n As a list by conference, the Big Ten and SEC lead with 15 each, the Big 12 has 11 and the Atlantic Coast and Pac-12 have 10 each followed by the American, Mid-American, Mountain West and Sun Belt with six each and Conference USA and the Independents with four.<\/p>\n In all 10 players from the 94-player list were on last season\u2019s FWAA Freshman All-America Team. There are 69 schools \u2013 more than half of the FBS membership \u2013 represented on this year\u2019s team.<\/p>\n Players may be added or removed from the watch list during the course of the season. As in previous years, the FWAA will announce a National Defensive Player of the Week each Tuesday this season. If not already on the watch list, each week\u2019s honored player will be added at that time.<\/p>\n Following is the complete 2023 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Preseason Watch List<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n CB Micah Abraham, Marshall\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 DE Gabe Hall, Baylor\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 S Tyler Nubin, Minnesota The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the association\u2019s full membership, selects a 26-man All-America Team and eventually the Nagurski Trophy finalists. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner will be chosen from the five finalists named in November. Committee members, by individual ballot, select the winner they regard as the best defensive player in college football.<\/p>\n The FWAA has chosen a National Defensive Player of the Year since 1993. In 1995, the FWAA named the award in honor of the legendary two-way player from the University of Minnesota. Nagurski dominated college football, then became a star for professional football\u2019s Chicago Bears in the 1930s. Bronislaw “Bronko” Nagurski is a charter member of both the College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame.<\/p>\n The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football\u2019s most prestigious awards and its 24 awards have honored more than 900 recipients dating back to 1935. This season, 12 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n2023 Bronko Nagurski Preseason Watch List (94)<\/h3>\n
\nCB Kris Abrams-Draine, Missouri\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 LB Jason Henderson, Old Dominion\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 S Kitan Oladapo, Oregon St
\nDE Praise Amaewhule, UTEP\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 DE Darius Hodges, Tulane\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 DE Collin Oliver, Oklahoma St
\nLB Levelle Bailey, Fresno State\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 S Maxen Hook, Toledo\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 DT Devonte O’Malley, NIU
\nS Yam Banks, South Alabama\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 LB Ty’Ron Hopper, Missouri\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 LB Harold Perkins Jr., LSU
\nLB JD Bertrand, Notre Dame\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 S Jack Howell, Colorado State\u00a0\u00a0 DE Owen Porter, Marshall
\nS Cole Bishop, Utah\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 DT Jaylon Hutchings, Texas Tech\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 DT Keith Randolph Jr., Illinois
\nCB Cobee Bryant, Kansas\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 DE Brennan Jackson, Washington St\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 S Lathan Ransom, Ohio St
\nS Calen Bullock, USC\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 CB D.J. James, Auburn\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 DE Chop Robinson, Penn St
\nDT James Carpenter, James Madison\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 DT Kris Jenkins, Michigan\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 S Kobe Savage, Kansas State
\nLB Abdul Carter, Penn State\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 LB Jason Johnson, UCF\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 LB DJ Schramm, Boise St
\nLB Barrett Carter, Clemson\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 LB Layton Jordan, Temple\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 LB Jackson Sirmon, California
\nDT DeWayne Carter, Duke\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 CB Donte Kent, Central Michigan\u00a0\u00a0 S Malaki Starks, Georgia
\nDT Kendy Charles, Liberty\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 S Kam Kinchens, Miami \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 CB Reddy Steward, Troy
\nLB Junior Colson, Michigan\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 CB Kalen King, Penn St \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 LB Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma
\nDT Dontay Corleone, Cincinnati\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 LB Tyrice Knight, UTEP \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 DT Junior Tafuna, Utah
\nCB Fentrell Cypress II, Florida State \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 DE Laiatu Latu, UCLA\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 CB T.J. Tampa, Iowa State
\nDT Tyler Davis, Clemson\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 CB Jordan Mahoney, Massachusetts\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 S Trey Taylor, Air Force
\nCB Cooper DeJean, Iowa\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 CB Dwight McGlothern, Arkansas\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 CB Ridge Texada, North Texas
\nLB Shaun Dolac, Buffalo\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 DE Bralen Trice, Washington
\nDE Brandon Dorlus, Oregon\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 LB Jackson Mitchell, UConn LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Clemson
\nLB Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Georgia\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 CB Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 DE JT Tuimoloau, Ohio St
\nLB Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 CB Jarius Monroe, Tulane\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 LB Dallas Turner, Alabama
\nS Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 LB Cody Moon, San Diego St\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 DE Jared Verse, Florida St
\nDE JaQues Evans, WKU\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 S Malachi Moore, Alabama\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 DT Deone Walker, Kentucky
\nDE Donovan Ezeiruaku, B.C. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 S Rod Moore, Michigan \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 LB Nathaniel Watson, Mississippi St
\nS Tra Fluellen, Middle Tennessee\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 LB Trey Moore, UTSA\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 CB Aydan White, N.C. State
\nLB Jaylan Ford, Texas\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 CB Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 S Evan Williams, Oregon
\nS Marcus Fuqua, Buffalo\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 DE Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 DE Mykel Williams, Georgia
\nLB Easton Gibbs, Wyoming\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 CB Josh Newton, TCU\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 DT Mekhi Wingo, LSU
\nLB Cedric Gray, North Carolina\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 LB Maema Njongmeta, Wisconsin\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 S Rashad Wisdom, UTSA
\nLB Cal Haladay, Michigan State<\/p>\n
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