Latest news with #Nagurski
USA Today
17 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Two Ohio State players named to the 2025 Bronko Nagurski preseason watch list
The preseason watch list parade continued on Tuesday with the Football Writers Association of America releasing the 2025 Bronko Nagurski preseason watch list, and there are two Ohio State players among the 60 names initially announced. Safety Caleb Downs, who is pretty much on every single preseason watch list he's eligible for, was among the players named, as was linebacker Sonny Styles. The Nagurski is awarded to the player judged to be the best defensive player in college football annually and has been handed out by the Charlotte Touchdown Club in conjunction with the FWAA. The Trophy has been around since 1993, with two OSU players having won the award. Current Ohio State assistant coach James Laurinaitis won the Trophy in 2006, and defensive end Chase Young took it home in 2019. Downs should get plenty of consideration and might be the favorite to take it home before the season starts. He was a unanimous All-American last year after transferring from Alabama. He has been named to every single preseason first-team All-American team for 2025 so far. Styles is entering his senior year after really coming on at the tail-end of last season. He was second on the team with 100 tackles and could have a major breakout year with his athleticism continuing to catch up with the game coming to him more at the linebacker position. He's been recognized on several preseason All-American teams so far as well. The list can and will change throughout the year, with additional players being added as performance dictates. The Trophy will be awarded on December 8 at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet in Charlotte, North Carolina. Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.
USA Today
18 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Three Florida football linemen earn spots on prestigious 2025 award watch lists
Florida football saw three of its linemen earn early recognition for two of the sport's most coveted postseason honors. On Tuesday, the Gators placed a pair of offensive linemen–center Jake Slaughter and tackle Austin Barber–on the 2025 Outland Trophy watch list, an award honoring the top interior lineman in college football. Slaughter started all 13 games at center last season for the Orange and Blue and led Florida's offensive line in offensive snaps with 800. He led the Gators in Pro Football Focus' offense, pass-block and run-block grades. Pro Football Focus also regarded Slaughter as the SEC's top offensive player heading into the 2025 season. Barber, a left tackle, also started all 13 games last season for the Gators. He logged a total of 729 offensive snaps with a run block grade of 70.0 according to Pro Football Focus. He was named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week during Week 4 after scoring his first career touchdown in the fourth quarter against Mississippi State. Defensive tackle Caleb Banks picked up his own preseason nod, landing on the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list. The Nagurski is awarded annually to the nation's best defensive player, regardless of position, and has been one of the highest marks of individual defensive excellence in the sport. Last season, Banks logged 21 tackles (10 solo) that included seven tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a recovered fumble in 10 starts. He also set a career-high in snaps played (56) against Tennessee. The Outland field will be narrowed to six or seven semifinalists on Nov. 19, with three finalists named on Nov. 25. The winner will be revealed during the Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 12. For the Nagurski, four finalists will be announced in mid-to-late November before the trophy is presented on Dec. 8. Both honors fall under the umbrella of the National College Football Awards Association and stand as benchmarks of elite play in the sport. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
LSU football linebacker Whit Weeks named to Bronco Nagurski award watchlist
LSU football linebacker Whit Weeks was named to the watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, announced Tuesday. The annual award is presented to the top defensive player in college football. LSU has just one Nagurski award winner in its history -- defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey. He won the trophy in 2007 after totaling 69 tackles and seven sacks. South Carolina's Kyle Kennard earned the recognition last year. A rising junior, Weeks ranked second in the SEC last year with 56 stops and 25 pressures. He led the Tigers with 125 tackles while also adding 10 tackles for loss, six quarterback hurries, 3.5 sacks, three pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and an interception. Weeks took a big step forward as a sophomore under first-year defensive coordinator Blake Baker, ranking among the top five in multiple statistical categories within the conference. Similar progression in 2025 would further increase his NFL Draft stock and put LSU's defense in a position to contain some of the nation's most potent offenses. This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: LSU star LB Whit Weeks named to Bronco Nagurski award watchlist
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
LSU football linebacker Whit Weeks named to Bronco Nagurski award watchlist
The Bronko Nagurski TrophyWhit Weeks is on the watch list for the top defensive player in college football LSU football linebacker Whit Weeks was named to the watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, announced Tuesday. The annual award is presented to the top defensive player in college football. LSU has just one Nagurski award winner in its history -- defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey. He won the trophy in 2007 after totaling 69 tackles and seven sacks. South Carolina's Kyle Kennard earned the recognition last year. A rising junior, Weeks ranked second in the SEC last year with 56 stops and 25 pressures. He led the Tigers with 125 tackles while also adding 10 tackles for loss, six quarterback hurries, 3.5 sacks, three pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and an interception. Weeks took a big step forward as a sophomore under first-year defensive coordinator Blake Baker, ranking among the top five in multiple statistical categories within the conference. Similar progression in 2025 would further increase his NFL Draft stock and put LSU's defense in a position to contain some of the nation's most potent offenses.
USA Today
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Nebraska football great eligible for Hall of Fame ballot
Nebraska football great eligible for Hall of Fame ballot The National Football Foundation has announced the names under consideration for induction into the NFF College Football Hall of Fame, and a Nebraska football great has qualified for the ballot. Ndamukong Suh played at Nebraska from 2005 to 2009. His senior season, in 2009, is one of the legendary seasons in college football. During that year, Suh played in 14 games and recorded 85 tackles, 20.5 for loss, and 12.0 sacks. He was a finalist for the 2009 Heisman trophy and was the first defensive player named the Associated Press College Football Player of the Year. Here is how the College Football Hall of Fame described his Husker "2009 unanimous First Team All-American and winner of the Bednarik, Lombardi, Nagurski and Outland trophies…2009 AP College Player of the Year became the first defensive lineman in 15 seasons to be named a finalist for the Heisman Trophy (4th in 2009)…2009 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year tied the Nebraska record for single-game TFL (7 vs. Texas) in the 2009 Big 12 title game." Suh was drafted second overall by the Detroit Lions in the 2009 NFL draft. He's also played for Miami, Los Angeles, Tampa Bay, and Philadelphia. The 2026 Hall of Fame ballot includes 79 players and nine coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision and 100 players and 35 coaches from the divisional ranks. The announcement of the 2026 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class will be made in early 2026, with specific details to be announced in the future. The class will be officially inducted in Las Vegas on Dec. 8, 2026, at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino. Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.
