USA TODAY Sports Network 2025 All-SEC softball awards, coach and player of the year
A panel of six sportswriters who regularly cover SEC softball selected Arkansas' Bri Ellis as the SEC Player of the Year and Tennessee's Karlyn Pickens as SEC Pitcher of the Year.
Advertisement
Ellis is hitting .487 with 25 home runs, 68 RBIs, a 1.221 slugging percentage and a .659 on-base percentage — leading the conference in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage and home runs and tied for fourth in RBIs.
Only Virginia Tech's Cori McMillan has hit more home runs this season than Ellis.
Pickens is 20-7 with a 0.96 ERA, striking out 221 in 167 ⅓ innings.
The only qualifying pitcher nationally with a better ERA is Texas Tech's NiJaree Canady. Pickens' strikeout total is sixth nationally.
Pickens was a unanimous choice for the honor.
Oklahoma coach Patty Gasso was selected as the SEC Coach of the Year.
Advertisement
The Sooners lost the core of their team that won four consecutive Women's College World Series titles, but they still thrived in their first season of the SEC.
More: SEC Softball Tournament bracket: Full TV schedule, seedings for 2025 championship
Arkansas' Bri Ellis rounds the bases in celebration after hitting a 2-run home rum against Tennessee during an NCAA softball game on Monday, March 24, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn.
Oklahoma swept Arkansas, Texas and Mississippi State en route to the conference's regular-season title.
Alabama's Audrey Vandagriff and Florida's Taylor Shumaker share SEC Freshman of the Year honors.
Vandagriff hit .404 with 48 runs scored and 48 stolen bases. No other baserunner in the SEC had more than 34 stolen bases.
Shumaker hit .374 with an SEC-high 75 RBIs and tied with teammate Kendra Falby for the conference lead in runs with 63.
Advertisement
Oklahoma pitcher Sam Landry, who transferred from Louisiana in the offseason, earned SEC Newcomer of the Year honors.
Landry is 18-4 with a 2.10 ERA, striking out 147 in 143 ⅔ innings.
Ellis was one of three unanimous selections for the first team. She was joined by pitchers Teagan Kavan of Texas and Pickens.
Kavan is 21-4 with a 2.24 ERA, with 183 strikeouts in 146 ⅔ innings.
The rest of the first team includes Texas catcher Reese Atwood, Alabama second baseman Kali Heivilin, Tennessee third baseman Taylor Pannell, Texas A&M shortstop Koko Wooley, Florida outfielder Kendra Falby, Oklahoma outfielder Kasidi Pickering and Mississippi State outfielder Sierra Sacco.
Advertisement
Oklahoma's Ella Parker and Texas' Mia Scott were tied at the designated player spot.
REQUIRED READING: How former OU softball star Tiare Jennings has passed knowledge as Sooners' student coach
Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens (23) throws a pitch during a softball game between Tennessee and Texas A&M at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium at University of Tennessee, in Knoxville, Tenn., May 1, 2025.
USA TODAY Sports Network All-SEC softball team
Catcher: Reese Atwood, Texas
First base: Bri Ellis, Arkansas*
Second base: Kali Heivilin, Alabama
Shortstop: Koko Wooley, Texas A&M
Third base: Taylor Pannell, Tennessee
Outfield: Kendra Falby, Florida
Outfield: Kasidi Pickering, Oklahoma
Outfield: Sierra Sacco, Mississippi State
Designated player: Ella Parker, Oklahoma and Mia Scott, Texas
Pitcher: Teagan Kavan, Texas*
Pitcher: Sam Landry, Oklahoma
Pitcher: Karlyn Pickens, Tennessee*
*-Unanimous selections
Voters: Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman; Jenni Carlson, The Oklahoman; Mikey DiLullo, Lafayette Daily Advertiser; Cora Hall, Knoxville News-Sentinel; Noah Ram, Gainesville Sun; Anna Snyder, Tuscaloosa News; Sara Tidwell, Athens Banner-Herald
More: OU softball is SEC Tournament No. 1 seed, but Sooners' loss vs Florida brings up concerns
Ryan Aber covers OU athletics for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Ryan? He can be reached at raber@oklahoman.com or on Twitter at @RyAber . Sign up for the OU Sooners newsletter to access more OU coverage. Support Ryan's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com .
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: USA TODAY Sports Network 2025 All-SEC softball awards
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
a minute ago
- New York Times
Mandel's Mailbag: Big Ten's Playoff power grab and bold calls for 2025 season
Pretty much every team in the country will hit the practice field for the first time no later than this weekend. The season is nearly upon us, which makes this a good week to start getting into predictions. But also, the Big Ten's maniacal Playoff push and, of course, realignment. Which national championship favorite stumbles and doesn't finish in the top 25 this season? — Jasper S. I realize someone in the top five or so is going to fall on its face. But I'd be in a far more lucrative profession if I could predict ahead of time who will be this year's Florida State. Advertisement Let's rephrase it to, 'national championship favorite that misses the Playoff.' I wonder a bit about Georgia. Kirby Smart's program has earned the benefit of the doubt, even after two 'down' seasons (in which the Dawgs still went 24-4). But we've seen some cracks of late. Last season's 11-3 team was notably light on offensive playmakers. It was unable to fill the voids left by Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey, both of whom had 1,100-plus receiving yards as NFL rookies. And the defense finished 30th nationally in yards per play allowed (5.1), lowest since Smart's first season in 2016. I don't worry much about the defense. It's still five stars on top of five stars. And Smart made nice additions on offense in speedy USC receiver/return man Zachariah Branch and Illinois running back Josh McCray, who will make a nice complement to freshman standout Nate Frazier. But there's one position I'm surprised he did not try to upgrade: quarterback. Georgia has a lot riding on Gunner Stockton, who, after understandably struggling in relief of Carson Beck in the SEC championship game against Texas (off the bench), went 20 of 32 for 234 yards, one touchdown and no picks against Notre Dame. That game was effectively over once the Irish scored on a strip-sack of Stockton just before halftime, then returned the opening kick of the second half to go up 20-3. Stockton was sacked four times, fumbled twice and spent much of the game throwing underneath. But he connected with Arian Smith on a 67-yard deep ball and threw a 32-yard TD to a wide-open Cash Jones on a wheel route. If those two throws were indicative of what Stockton can do with a better supporting cast and another year in the system, then Georgia will make me look silly for even entertaining the idea of a slip. But if the rest of that game, and the Texas game before it, were more representative of his ceiling, then it wouldn't be a total shock if this preseason top-five team was out of the running by the end of October. Advertisement If the Big Ten is so harmed by playing nine conference games, why don't they go to eight conference games? That is if they truly care about doing what is best for their teams and not making FOX more money. — Matthew C. Based on their comments last week, the coaches are definitely obsessed with the eight- versus nine-game debate, and I'm somewhat sympathetic. These guys' jobs are dependent on losing as few games as possible, and their teams are collectively guaranteed nine more losses in conference play than the SEC's. But of course, no one forced the Big Ten to move from eight games to nine (that was a Jim Delany thing), just like no one forced it to expand to 18 teams spread across four time zones (Kevin Warren and Tony Petitti). But based on Petitti's comments in Vegas, both at the podium and with individual outlets, scheduling seems like a secondary concern for him. Even when a reporter asked him, 'Is it a must in your mind that the power conferences play the same number of conference games?' he said, 'It's not a must. Each league will decide what they think the best conference schedule is for them,' before launching into a pitch for 'a system with allocated spots.' You know what he mentioned repeatedly, though? Play-in games, play-in games, play-in games. That's his end goal in this. More inventory, more TV dollars, more happy faces at the Big Ten's de facto owner, Fox Sports. And I don't disagree that end-of-season play-in games would be exciting (though more exciting if the losers couldn't still get in as at-large teams). The problem is it would render the entire non-conference season completely meaningless and shift attention from the best teams in the country to the Big Ten and SEC's third-tier teams. Lastly, I'd just remind everyone that, regardless of the number of games, every computer rating on the internet will show that the SEC's schedules, as a whole, are more difficult than the Big Ten's. Especially when top Big Ten teams like 2023 Michigan, 2024 Ohio State and 2025 Penn State play three body bags out of conference. The teams hurt most by the extra league game are the ones trying to get to 6-6. But if you're a legit CFP contender in either league, you'd much rather play a typical Big Ten schedule than a typical SEC schedule. No one thinks the Huskies have much chance in the Big Ten. What are the chances Demond Williams Jr. makes a wave, with Ohio State coming to town in September? Washington is currently riding a 20-game home winning streak. Do the Dawgs have a chance? — Sean S. People are definitely sleeping on Washington, which came in 10th in two unofficial preseason Big Ten polls last week. Jedd Fisch overperformed in Year 1, taking what was effectively an expansion team (two returning starters) to a bowl game. He has a star quarterback to build around in Williams, one of the nation's best returning running backs in Jonah Coleman and a go-to receiver in Denzel Boston. Advertisement Meanwhile, two of Fisch's best defensive players at Arizona, linebacker Jacob Manu and cornerback Tacario Davis (both former all-conference selections), have reunited with him in Seattle. And while new defensive coordinator Ryan Walters had a woeful two-year stint as Purdue's head coach, he was a fantastic DC at Illinois before that. Not that the Huskies are without questions. The offensive line needs to get much better. Experienced Kansas State left tackle Carver Willis should help. Also, receivers need to emerge alongside Boston. Penn State's Omari Evans was a notable pickup, but he was inconsistent for the Nittany Lions. And the defense as a whole is heavily dependent on transfers. Pass-rusher Zach Durfee, cornerback Ephesians Prysock and safety Makell Esteen are the only real veterans back. As for Ohio State — that's a trappy game for the Buckeyes. It will be the first road start for their new starting quarterback (presumably Julian Sayin), as well as a bunch of guys taking on new roles. And it's not just that Washington is tough at home. The Big Ten's eastern/central schools went 3-10 in games against the four West Coast schools last season. This just confirms the talking points from media days last week that the conference plays tougher schedules than even the NFC West and should be rewarded accordingly with automatic berths and ticker tape parades. I'm so glad you've been sticking it to the Big Ten on this four-automatic bids nonsense. As a lifelong CFB fan of 40 years, I've been pushed and pushed so far by this sport and its lackluster leadership, but this may finally be the straw that breaks my back. I can't take it anymore. Do they not realize just how insane, unfair, and indefensible this idea is? — Tyler F. Apparently not. I've been covering this sport for nearly 25 years, which means I've covered every single arcane chapter in the evolution of the postseason from BCS to the four-team CFP to the 12-team CFP to this. There's been no shortage of bizarre, buffoonish moves by various commissioners, but most of them I was more bemused by than angered. What the Big Ten is doing right now, however, is the most insulting power play I've ever witnessed. And I don't need a Twitter poll to know how the vast majority of you feel about it. Advertisement If the writing is on the wall for the ACC losing its premier teams (Clemson, Florida State, UNC), should they be aggressive now by shoring up reserves? For example, if Memphis is paying now to join a league, why not poach them? Why not see about teams like Texas Tech, Arizona and Arizona State from the Big 12? — Craig B. I still question where these schools think they're going to go. The Big Ten is already finding out that bigger is not better. That's a big reason Petitti is pushing so hard for CFP expansion. He has more schools that expect to be regular Playoff participants than is mathematically possible at 12 teams. And for the SEC, going to a 16-team CFP may be more appealing than going beyond 16 teams. Especially when two of those schools, Florida State and Clemson, are in states where the SEC already has a footprint. (Throw Miami in there as well.) Now, it's a different story if we're talking about a breakaway Super League scenario. Interestingly, the ACC's lawsuit settlement with Florida State and Clemson includes a specific provision that allows six or more schools to leave in a specific sport and pay a lower exit fee (50 percent, or $75 million, whichever is higher). But if that day comes where the top 24-32 programs band together, all the conferences, including the Big Ten and SEC, will be fighting for scraps. Finally, I don't know why any Big 12 schools would leave for the ACC. They have a nice, drama-free setup where they are now. If the ACC decides to mirror the Big Ten and go to 18 teams, UConn may be at the top of the list, in particular because the ACC still cares about basketball. Maybe Tulane if it can sustain its recent football success. As for Memphis, that school has struggled to attract suitors largely because it doesn't have a great academic reputation (No. 266 in US News). That the Big 12 did not bite despite: A. Memphis offering to give the other schools free money. B. Granting the Big 12 an out to ditch Memphis before the next TV contract does not bode well for landing an ACC invite. A friendly reminder that I personally have no opinion about any school's academics, and question why this should have any factor in deciding which stadiums your football team should or should not visit. Hi Stewart, a fun game to play as we get ready for the season. Who will be the first team to gain bowl eligibility? And who will be the last? It gets interesting when you think multiple teams may get to six wins on the same day, and it comes down to which game ends first. As for the last team, good luck! — Eric Hazard I love this question, both because it's a lot more fun than Playoff plans and revenue sharing, but also, Eric submitted it by actual email! You can too: Stewart@ The first part is extra tricky because this is a year with two off weeks per team, so not many will be playing straight through for the first six weeks. So, it's no guarantee the first bid will be clinched in Week 6 (Oct. 4). And then to figure out the time of the games on top of that? Advertisement I strongly considered Jalon Daniels and the Kansas Jayhawks, who are going to bounce back in a big way this season and get a head start in Week 0, so they do play their sixth game on Oct. 4. Five of those games are Fresno State, Wagner, West Virginia, Cincinnati and at UCF. But the sixth is at Missouri. Can't pull the trigger. That brings me to two candidates playing on Oct. 11: Navy should be very good, and it opens with VMI, UAB, at Tulsa, Rice, Air Force and at Temple. Then there's Pitt, which I consider one of the top surprise contenders. The Panthers' first six are Duquesne, Central Michigan, at West Virginia, Louisville, Boston College and at Florida State. If Pitt is really 5-0 heading to Florida State, which, let's say is 3-2, that'll be the top ACC TV game that week. Last year, the No. 1 ACC game usually aired at noon on either ABC (though usually that was an SEC game) or ESPN. Whereas Navy's conference games were split either at noon on ESPN/ESPN2 or 3:30 p.m. on CBS Sports Network. No idea which one would get the Temple game. Given Pitt is more likely to be earlier, I give the nod to Pat Narduzzi's team, which would be its second straight 6-0 start. Hopefully this one doesn't finish 7-6. For the second part of the question, I looked for western teams that could conceivably get picked for the late-night window on Nov. 29. Not a single Power 4 team fit the bill, and Oregon State is playing Washington State at 3:30 on The CW that day. But then I turned to the Mountain West, and there was an obvious choice: Hawaii, which hosts Wyoming at 11 p.m. ET. Why not leave the CFP at 12 and give it five more years? — Shannon E. It's telling that in every previous iteration of the sport, back to the BCS, the majority of fans have clamored for a bigger playoff field. Now, having gotten an initial peek at 12, I'd guess more want to stay where it's at than immediately fast forward to 16. Advertisement Do you agree with Dan Lanning and others that the CFP should commence the week after Championship Saturday and finish Jan. 1 with bowl games played throughout the month on off days? Can we call it 'December Delirium?' — Don D. Yes, absolutely. The inaugural 12-team CFP dragged all the way to Jan. 20, and it showed in the surprisingly modest viewership (relatively speaking) for what should have been a blockbuster Ohio State-Notre Dame matchup. It should have been up from Michigan-Washington a year earlier (25 million), not down 12 percent (22.1 million). Nor was it ideal that the first-round Saturday goes head-to-head with big NFL games. I agree with Lanning that Week 0 should become Week 1. Not only would it help with CFP scheduling, but also it gives college football two weeks to itself at the start of the season, and, as Lanning pointed out, there could be less overlap with the season and the transfer portal window. I was a bit surprised, though, that he said he'd prefer to start the Playoff a week after the conference championships. I realize his team was red-hot at the end of the regular season, then completely laid an egg in the Rose Bowl following a 25-day layoff. But most players need a week or two off after the grind of a 12- or 13-game season. While his team was negatively affected by a long break, Ohio State and Notre Dame, which did not play in conference title games, looked pretty darn fresh coming off a three-week break. I've been beating this drum for three years, but my preferred schedule is: • First round on the second weekend in December (currently Army-Navy week). • Quarterfinals on the third weekend. Note: I believe the NFL would back off this Saturday, or at least schedule less-important games, if going against these games, which averaged nearly 17 million viewers last year. • Semifinals on New Year's Day. Advertisement • National championship on the second Monday in January, like before. And then you have a three-week portal window beginning later in December, when only a handful of teams are still playing significant games. If there were no preseason rankings, how would media outlets adjust to covering season previews and early season matchups? — Jon There will always be preseason rankings, whether official (AP and USA Today coaches poll) or unofficial (the other 3,000 of them on the internet), because lots and lots of people read them. And then complain about them. And then read them again the next year.
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
George Pickens could be explosive for Cowboys – one way or another
OXNARD, CA – It was the last play of practice. George Pickens, running a sharp comeback route, snagged Dak Prescott's short pass to the left flat and urgently juked a defender near the sideline. Then he cut against the grain and streaked across the field for at least another 50 yards with a purpose. The crowd roared. Pickens didn't stop until he crossed the goal line. Then he added theatrics. The wide receiver stretched both arms toward the sky and crashed on his back. It was also significant that two of his new Dallas Cowboys teammates – Cee Dee Lamb and tight end Jake Ferguson – sprinted downfield to join Pickens in a celebration. What a snapshot of training camp bliss. Big play, big celebration. 'Team brotherhood, yeah,' Pickens told USA TODAY Sports a few minutes later. 'Really, I'm just embracing it. And it's about them embracing me, too.' Welcome to the next chapter of Pickens' NFL career. The Cowboys obtained the fourth-year pro from the Pittsburgh Steelers in a post-draft trade in May and there are grand visions of the big plays he can produce as another target for Prescott, opposite the All-Pro Lamb. Since he entered the NFL as a second-round pick from Georgia, only Justin Jefferson and A.J. Brown have produced more receptions of at least 25 yards than Pickens (41). Last season, Pickens' 14 catches in that category were topped only by Jefferson and Ja'Marr Chase. And Pickens, 24, is clearly elite when it comes to hauling in contested catches. Then there's the reason the home run threat was available in the first place. Too often, Pickens was his own worst enemy with the Steelers, a headache waiting to happen. Being explosive, it seems, is a double-edged sword. There were hotheaded scuffles with opponents. During at least one game, he argued with fans. He was also criticized for lacking professionalism while dodging the media. After Pickens drew two unsportsmanlike conduct flags during a game at Cincinnati with fits of immaturity, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said of the receiver: 'He's got to grow up in a hurry.' Undoubtedly, the Steelers embraced the idea of moving on from Pickens. Hello, Dallas. 'The issues, they don't deter me at all,' Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told USA TODAY Sports in May, shortly after the trade. Dallas sent a third-round pick in 2026 and a fifth-round choice in 2027 to Pittsburgh for Pickens and a sixth-round pick in 2027. 'You get these guys that are really in the right place, that makes a big difference,' Jones said. Jones has a history of taking chances on players who either fell out of favor elsewhere, or carried baggage related to off-the-field issues. Some cases worked out, while others flopped. The former category would include Hall of Famer Charles Haley, who became a key cog in three Super Bowl championship teams after he was obtained in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers in 1992. The latter category would include Adam 'Pacman' Jones and Greg Hardy, whose legal issues didn't end when they joined the Cowboys. 'The biggest issue of all is that I've never met a human that didn't have frailties,' Jones said. 'As a matter of fact, someone once said, 'Jerry might be the most flawed individual I've ever met.' As one flawed person to the other, I look forward to working with George.' Pickens is well aware of the reputation he hopes to leave behind with his fresh start. 'You can push a certain narrative. I know, personally, myself, that I'm not an issue,' Pickens said. 'Now, I'm just following the Cowboys way. They always want to win a Super Bowl. So, I'm on their agenda now.' Time will tell whether Pickens is a good fit for the chemistry of a franchise that is, well, working with a 29-year Super Bowl drought. Since his arrival, coaches, teammates and others connected to the team have raved about Pickens' approach and demeanor. So, that's a great sign. Ferguson, the tight end, recalled a good first impression in meeting Pickens during the draft process in 2022. 'Seeing the locker room, it was right back to normal, right back to chatting it up,' Ferguson said. 'I'm excited to see what he can do. And yeah, he gets on the field and he's explosive. It's just going to open up that many more things.' Pickens won't deny that his demeanor has become more upbeat since the trade. 'Yeah, it's a huge change from the last couple of years,' he said. Then came a swipe at the Steelers. 'It was all a big circus,' he says. 'When I was at the Steelers, the team wasn't as fun.' Stay tuned. While Pickens (who led Pittsburgh with 59 catches for 900 yards in 2024) clearly carries a competitive edge, it will be interesting to see how well he handles a complementary role in a passing game that revolves around Lamb. What's the reaction if Lamb puts up a monster game with, say, 10 catches for 150 yards and two TDs, while Pickens chips in with four receptions and 60 yards? Of course, that's hypothetical. Yet it's fair to wonder whether Pickens, after being the Steelers' undisputed No. 1 receiver, would be fazed by the prospect of not being the top option. 'I accept it as huge,' he maintained. 'I look at it as better. I don't know if other people see that. I can only think for myself, but I look at it as a way for a great chance. Because you have Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins (with the Bengals). You have A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith (with the Eagles). Look around the league. When you've got those two-headed weapons, those are the guys going to the playoffs, close to or in the Super Bowl. I embrace it a lot, honestly. Whether it's 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A. See what I mean? It don't matter.' Mention the X's and O's and Pickens lights up. Clearly this is a man stoked about the designs of an offense that has the fingerprints of new coach Brian Schottenheimer, promoted from coordinator to replace Mike McCarthy. Pickens isn't shy in expressing that he felt stagnated in Arthur Smith's offense with Pittsburgh last season. 'Man, I was super limited,' he said. 'I came out of college running posts, go-balls, comebacks, digs. And then I got to the Steelers and I was only running go-balls. And screens. It was limited from low to high.' He continued grumbling about a lack of intermediate routes in Pittsburgh. 'Now I'm running digs,' he added. 'I ran like three digs today. I ran a comeback on the last play. I didn't run one comeback my whole career with the Steelers. That should show you a lot. And that's just today. Yesterday, I ran three other comebacks. See what I mean?' Pickens is surely heard, loud and clear. Although he insists he was 'kind of surprised' when the trade happened, it was hardly a secret that he wanted out. 'When you see better for yourself … you're going to have to take it,' he said. 'And that's what your family is going to want you to do. So, I kind of felt like it was better somewhere else.' Is Dallas a long-term destination? That's TBD. Pickens is on the final year of his rookie contract, with a base salary of $3.65 million, eligible to become a free agent in March. The Steelers, who added DK Metcalf in an offseason deal, were wise to get something in return for a player they had no interest in signing to a long-term extension. Now that looms as an option for the Cowboys – and incentive for Pickens to prove that he's a good fit in more ways than one. 'I think we're in total agreement,' Jones said. 'Let's see how this year goes and go from there.' In other words, Pickens could explode in Dallas – one way or another. Contact Jarrett Bell at jbell@ or follow on social media: On X: @JarrettBell; On Bluesky:
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Texas A&M senior CB named to the Bronko Nagurski Award watch list
Texas A&M's 2025 secondary will be led by senior cornerback Will Lee III, who announced his return early in the offseason after transferring from Kansas State last year. Regarded as one of the most confident players in the country, his dominant coverage skill set has set him apart in the SEC as one of the top cornerback prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft. Still, Lee is highly underrated nationally, but should thrive next to Georgia transfer corner Julian Humphrey, while the return of senior Tyreek Chappell and transfer Jordan Shaw solidifies depth at the nickel corner spot, which was an issue last season. Standing at 6'3" and 190 pounds, Lee's notable size and speed, paired with his defensive instincts, led to 42 tackles, two interceptions, and ten pass deflections last season. On Tuesday, Lee finally gained national recognition ahead of the 2025 season, as he was named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list, given to the top defender in the country after every campaign. While it seems like a long shot for Lee, or any cornerback this season, to win the award, his two interceptions last season were likely the bare minimum for a player now adjusted to Mike Elko's defensive scheme, and should be in a better position to reel in more picks. Here is more on the Bronko Nagurski Award's background, thanks to the Texas A&M Athletics website: The Bronko Nagurski Trophy, created in 1993, is awarded to the best defensive player in college football and is presented by the Charlotte Touchdown Club. The award was established to complement the Heisman Trophy Award, which at the time had never been presented to a defensive player. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
