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<\/h3>\n<\/h3>\nCorner Leonard Moore along with edge defenders Dylan Stewart and Colin Simmons head the 2026 Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list.\u00a0They are among the 11 returning players who were named to Nagurski Trophy Watch List from last fall<\/p>\n
Corners Leonard Moore and Zabien Brown along with edge defenders Dylan Stewart and Colin Simmons head the 2026 Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list.\u00a0They are part of 68 players named to the 2026 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List, the Football Writers Association of America announced.<\/p>\n
The Southeastern Conference leads the nation with 17 players on the watch list.\u00a0 By position, the list includes 21 linebackers, 16 safeties (including one designated nickel back), 13 defensive ends, 10 defensive tackles and eight cornerbacks.<\/p>\n
Moore, Brown, Stewart and Simmons are among the 11 returning players who were on the Nagurski Trophy Watch List last fall.<\/p>\n
The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce finalists for the defensive player of the year award on Nov. 19. The official presentation to the recipient of the 2026 Bronko Nagurski Trophy will be at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet in Charlotte, N.C. on Dec. 7.<\/p>\n
Players may be added or removed from the watch list during the course of the 2026 season. As in previous years, the FWAA will announce a Bronko Nagurski 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
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 \u201cBronko\u201d 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 (NCFAA), which encompasses college football\u2019s most prestigious awards. The NCFAA\u2019s 25 awards have honored nearly 1,000 recipients since 1935.<\/p>\n
Melkart Abou Jaoude, DE, North Carolina<\/p>\n
Xavier Atkins, LB, Auburn<\/p>\n
Rasheem Biles, LB, Texas<\/p>\n
KJ Bolden, S, Georgia<\/p>\n
Drayk Bowen, LB, Notre Dame<\/p>\n
Sammy Brown, LB, Clemson<\/p>\n
Taye Brown, LB, Arizona<\/p>\n
Zabien Brown, CB, Alabama<\/p>\n
Kemari Copeland, DT, Virginia Tech<\/p>\n
John Henry Daley, DE, Michigan<\/p>\n
CJ Doggette Jr., DT, Florida Atlantic<\/p>\n
Will Echoles, DT, Ole Miss<\/p>\n
Jaxton Eck, LB, New Mexico<\/p>\n
Koen Entringer, S, Louisville<\/p>\n
Tre\u2019Quon Fegans, CB, Jax State<\/p>\n
Amare Ferrell, S, Indiana<\/p>\n
Brandon Finney Jr., CB, Oregon<\/p>\n
C.J. Fite, DT, Arizona State<\/p>\n
Bryce Fitzgerald, S, Miami<\/p>\n
Blake Fletcher, LB, Air Force<\/p>\n
Josh Franklin, NB, Western Michigan<\/p>\n
Isaiah Glasker, LB, BYU<\/p>\n
Brevin Hamblin, S, Utah State<\/p>\n
Rolijah Hardy, LB, Indiana<\/p>\n
Simeon Harris, S, Fresno State<\/p>\n
A.J. Holmes Jr., DT, Texas Tech<\/p>\n
Baron Hopson, LB, Kennesaw State<\/p>\n
Bray Hubbard, S, Alabama<\/p>\n
Kenyatta Jackson Jr., DE, Ohio State<\/p>\n
Will James, CB, Houston<\/p>\n
Jamel Johnson, S, TCU<\/p>\n
Isaiah Jones, LB, Indiana<\/p>\n
Kelley Jones, CB, Mississippi State<\/p>\n
Dylan LaBarbera, DE, Nevada<\/p>\n
Kip Lewis, LB, Oklahoma<\/p>\n
Bryce Llewellyn, S, Eastern Michigan<\/p>\n
Clev Lubin, DE, Louisville<\/p>\n
Zach Lutmer, S, Iowa<\/p>\n
Jaylen McClain, S, Ohio State<\/p>\n
Leonard Moore, CB, Notre Dame<\/p>\n
Ahmad Moten Sr., DT, Miami<\/p>\n
Koi Perich, S, Oregon<\/p>\n
Suntarine Perkins, LB, Ole Miss<\/p>\n
Colton Phares, LB, App State<\/p>\n
Brice Pollock, CB, Texas Tech<\/p>\n
Marcus Ratcliffe, S, Texas A&M<\/p>\n
Ty Redmond, CB, Tennessee<\/p>\n
Ben Roberts, LB, Texas Tech<\/p>\n
Kam Robinson, LB, Virginia<\/p>\n
Matt Rose, LB, Stanford<\/p>\n
Faletau Satuala, S, BYU<\/p>\n
Colin Simmons, DE, Texas<\/p>\n
Anthony Smith, DE, Minnesota<\/p>\n
Donnie Smith, DE, Troy<\/p>\n
Dylan Stewart, DE, South Carolina<\/p>\n
David Stone, DT, Oklahoma<\/p>\n
MJ Stroud, DE, Georgia Southern<\/p>\n
Jack Tchienchou, S, Tulane<\/p>\n
Boubacar Traore, DT, Notre Dame<\/p>\n
Tyrique Tucker, DT, Indiana<\/p>\n
Cade Uluave, LB, BYU<\/p>\n
Princewill Umanmielen, DE, LSU<\/p>\n
Jayden Virgin-Morgan, DE, Boise State<\/p>\n
A\u2019Mauri Washington, DT, Oregon<\/p>\n
Whit Weeks, LB, LSU<\/p>\n
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