The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is most well known and prized award for college football defensive players. The award was first given out in 1993 in honor of the great Bronko Nagurski, who was signed by Minnesota’s head coach Clarence Spears. Nagurski gave directions to the coach (who at the time was looking for directions) by lifting up the plow he was using and pointed the plow in the direction he needed to go. Needless to say Nagurski was signed on the spot.
“Bronko Nagurski” sounds like the name of someone you don’t want to mess with, which is why the award for the toughest, meanest and best defensive player is named after him. Past winners include Warren Sapp, Champ Bailey, Terrell Suggs, Elvis Dumervil and many other NFL greats. This year’s list highlights some great players.
2014 Bronko Nagurski Award Watch List:
| Henry Anderson, Stanford, DE |
Myles Jack, UCLA, LB |
| Stephone Anthony, Clemson, LB |
Grady Jarrett, Clemson, DT |
| Vic Beasley, Clemson, DE |
Jordan Jenkins, Georgia, LB |
| Michael Bennett, Ohio State, DT |
A.J. Johnson, Tennessee, LB |
| Craig Bills, BYU, DB |
Eric Kendricks, UCLA, LB |
| Joey Bosa, Ohio State, DE |
Hau’oli Kikaha, Washington, DE |
| Kelby Brown, Duke, LB |
Luther Maddy, Virginia Tech, DT |
| Malcom Brown, Texas, DT |
Derrick Malone, Oregon, LB |
| Shilique Calhoun, Michigan State, DE |
Tyler Matakevich, Temple, LB |
| Alex Carter, Stanford, DB |
Derrick Mathews, Houston, LB |
| Sam Carter, TCU, DB |
Lorenzo Mauldin, Louisville, DE |
| Jeremy Cash, Duke, DB |
Benardrick McKinney, Mississippi State, LB |
| Frank Clark, Michigan, DE |
Ryan Mueller, Kansas State, DE |
| Landon Collins, Alabama, DB |
Steven Nelson, Oregon State, DB |
| Blake Countess, Michigan, DB |
Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss, DT |
| Christian Covington, Rice, DT |
Shawn Oakman, Baylor, DE |
| Su’a Cravens, USC, DB |
Denzel Perryman, Miami, LB |
| Carl Davis, Iowa, DT |
Marcus Peters, Washington, DB |
| Tyeler Davison, Fresno State, DE |
Cody Prewitt, Ole Miss, DB |
| Trey DePriest, Alabama, LB |
Hayes Pullard, USC, LB |
| Quandre Diggs, Texas, DB |
Cedric Reed, Texas, DE |
| Lorenzo Doss, Tulane, DB |
Jordan Richards, Stanford, DB |
| Kurtis Drummond, Michigan State, DB |
A’Shawn Robinson, Alabama, DE |
| Alvin Dupree, Kentucky, DE |
KeiVarae Russell, Notre Dame, DB |
| Mario Edwards Jr., Florida State, DE |
Jake Ryan, Michigan, LB |
| Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Oregon, DB |
Zack Sanchez, Oklahoma, DB |
| Kyler Fackrell, Utah State, LB |
Danny Shelton, Washington, DT |
| Devonte Fields, TCU, DE |
Derron Smith, Fresno State, DB |
| Trey Flowers, Arkansas, DE |
Jaylon Smith, Notre Dame, LB |
| Leonard Floyd, Georgia, LB |
Eric Striker, Oklahoma, LB |
| Dante Fowler Jr., Florida, DE |
Charles Tapper, Oklahoma, DE |
| Alani Fua, BYU, LB |
A.J. Tarpley, Stanford, LB |
| Kendall Fuller, Virginia Tech, DB |
Jared Tevis, Arizona, DB |
| Markus Golden, Missouri, DE |
Shaq Thompson, Washington, LB |
| Randy Gregory, Nebraska, DE |
Tony Washington, Oregon, DE |
| Bryce Hager, Baylor, LB |
Trae Waynes, Michigan State, DB |
| Vernon Hargreaves III, Florida, DB |
P.J. Williams, Florida State, DB |
| Anthony Harris, Virginia, DB |
Leonard Williams, USC, DE |
| Ben Heeney, Kansas, LB |
Ramik Wilson, Georgia, LB |
| Chucky Hunter, TCU, DT |
Gabe Wright, Auburn, DT |
| Martin Ifedi, Memphis, DE |
