The Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), has released the pre-season watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy. The award is given annually to the best defensive player in the country. The ACC places seven on the Nagurski pre-season watch list this year.
There are 75 on the pre-season watch list from 56 different schools.
The ACC Candidates
The ACC watch list players are:
Peter Woods, Clemson, Sophomore; defensive end
Joshua Farmer, Florida State, Redshirt Junior; defensive tackle
Ashton Gillotte, Louisville, Senior; defensive end
Francisco Mauigoa, Miami, Senior; linebacker
Kaimon Rucker, North Carolina, Graduate Student; defensive end
Jonas Sanker, Virginia, Senior; safety
Aeneas Peebles, Virginia Tech, Graduate Student, DT
Farmer was also on Tuesday’s watchlist for the Outland Trophy given to the best interior lineman in the country.
Last year’s winner, Xavier Watts of Notre Dame, is back on the watch list. So is Georgia defensive back Malaki Starks, a finalist for last year’s award.
The Other Conferences
Ohio State leads all programs with four players on the watch list. The Big 10 overall has 16 on the list from nine different conference schools.
Georgia leads the SEC with three players on the list. The Big 12 has a dozen players on the list. The AAC, the Mountain West, the Sun Belt, Conference USA, and the MAC are also represented. The entire watch list can be seen here.
The Particulars
The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the association’s 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. The award from the FWAA dates back to 1993. It was named after Nagurski in 1995.
The award is determined by the members of the Football Writers Association of America membership and its All-American committee.
The FWAA will announce finalists for the 2024 trophy on Nov. 20. The winner will be announced Dec. 9 at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet in Charlotte, N.C., sponsored by the Charlotte Touchdown Club.
Players can be added to the list throughout the year as their on-field play warrants. The full 2024 list is here.
The schedule for other award watch lists coming out this week can be seen here.
