Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list 2017: 5 favorites to win
Taking a look at the five preseason favorites to win the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, given annually to the top defender in college football.
College football award watch list season is in full swing, meaning it’s time to start taking a look at the contenders for a few of the more prestigious trophies in the sport.
Through next Friday, the NCAA will publish preseason watch lists for 16 different awards spanning just about every position on the field. Thursday’s most notable watch list reveal was the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which is given annually to the best overall defender in college football.
Named after the Hall of Fame fullback from Minnesota and the Chicago Bears, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy has been awarded every year since 1993. Last season, Alabama’s Jonathan Allen joined the likes of Ndamukong Suh, Terrell Suggs and Charles Woodson as Bronko Nagurski winners.
The 2017 watch list features 103 top defenders, with cornerbacks representing the biggest position group at 30 individuals. With so much returning defensive talent across college football, standouts like 2016 finalist Christian Wilkins of Clemson and Michigan rising sophomore Rashan Gary are well down the preseason favorite list.
While other trophies like the Chuck Bednarik Award also recognize the nation’s top defender, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy ranks as one of the most prestigious non-Heisman honors in college football. Look for these five players to make the strongest case for the award in 2017.
Harold Landry, DL, Boston College
Many around the country may not get a chance to watch Landry and Boston College much this season, but his numbers are too impressive to leave off the short list of favorites.
A four-star 2014 recruit out of North Carolina, Landry had offers from the likes of Tennessee and Auburn before joining the Eagles. After appearing in six games as a freshman, Landry flashed some great potential with 16 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks in 2015.
Landry took his pass rushing game to a completely different level last season while racking up 16 sacks, tied with Florida State’s DeMarcus Walker for most in the nation. The versatile 6-3, 250-pound defensive lineman also ranked atop the national leaderboard with seven forced fumbles, and his 22 tackles for loss were tied for fourth most.
As if that wasn’t enough, Landry continued to stuff the stat sheet with an interception and subsequent 20-yard return in the Quick Lane Bowl against Maryland while racking up four pass defenses over the course of the year. Landry has the strength and agility to disrupt the opposing offense on multiple levels, and there’s no reason to think he won’t produce strong numbers all-around again in 2017.
Boston College won’t get the national attention of an Alabama or Ohio State, but Landry will get a chance to showcase his skills against tough competition in the ACC Atlantic.