The 2022 Bronco Nagurski Defensive Player of the Year Award Watch List is out and there are plenty of stars ready to shine. With a list with 85 players to watch, the Nagurski Award has the most players of any of the college football awards to watch in the upcoming season.
2022 BRONKO NAGURSKI TROPHY PRESEASON WATCH LIST (85) | ||
DE Praise Amaewhule, UTEP | DT Siaki Ika, Baylor | CB Clark Phillips, Utah |
LB Darren Anders, Bowling Green | S Tanner Ingle, N.C. State | LB Bumper Pool, Arkansas |
LB Will Anderson Jr., Alabama | S Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M | CB Joey Porter, Penn State |
DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas State | S Quindell Johnson, Memphis | CB Eli Ricks, Alabama |
S Jordan Battle, Alabama | LB Mikel Jones, Syracuse | CB Kelee Ringo, Georgia |
DT Keeanu Benton, Wisconsin | CB Steven Jones Jr., App State | S Jammie Robinson, Florida State |
DT Bryan Bresee, Clemson | S Brandon Joseph, Notre Dame | LB Vince Sanford, Air Force |
S CJ Brown, NIU | DT Calijah Kancey, Pitt | LB Noah Sewell, Oregon |
LB Jack Campbell, Iowa | CB Kyu Blu Kelly, Stanford | LB Trenton Simpson, Clemson |
LB Andre Carter, Army | S Antavioius Lane, Georgia State | S JL Skinner, Boise State |
DT Jalen Carter, Georgia | CB Darrell Luter Jr., South Alabama | CB Cam Smith, South Carolina |
S Grayson Cash, UAB | LB Carlton Martial, Troy | LB Nolan Smith, Georgia |
S Jalen Catalon, Arkansas | DE Brock Martin, Oklahoma State | DE Javon Solomon, Troy |
DT Elijah Chatman, SMU | DE Ochaun Mathis, Nebraska | LB Omar Speights, Oregon State |
LB KD Davis, North Texas | LB Caden McDonald, San Diego State | DE Josiah Stewart, Coastal Carolina |
DE Brandon Dorlus, Oregon | DE Will McDonald IV, Iowa State | DT Dante Stills, West Virginia |
LB Dillon Doyle, Baylor | S Patrick McMorris, San Diego State | DE Ron Stone Jr., Washington State |
DE Viliami Fehoko, San Jose State | CB Riley Moss, Iowa | CB D’Jordan Strong, Coastal Carolina |
CB Emmanuel Forbes, Mississippi State | DE Myles Murphy, Clemson | DT Junior Tafuna, Utah |
DE Isaiah Foskey, Notre Dame | DT Myles Murphy, North Carolina | DT Leonard Taylor, Miami |
LB Antonio Grier, USF | DT PJ Mustipher, Penn State | LB Drake Thomas, N.C. State |
DE Derick, Hall, Auburn | DE B.J. Ojulari, LSU | LB Henry To’oto’o, Alabama |
LB Kyle Harmon, San Jose State | DE Collin Oliver, Oklahoma State | DT Tuli Tuipulotu, USC |
DE Zach Harrison, Ohio State | LB DeMarvion Overshown, Texas | LB Payton Wilgar, BYU |
S Xavier Henderson, Michigan State | S Gervarrius Owens, Houston | S Evan Williams, Fresno State |
LB Nick Herbig, Wisconsin | LB Deshawn Pace, Cincinnati | S Divaad Wilson, UCF |
S Ronnie Hickman, Ohio State | LB Ivan Pace, Cincinnati | S Rashad Wisdom, UTSA |
DE Jamal Hines, Toledo | LB James Patterson, Buffalo | CB Charles Woods, West Virginia |
CB Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, TCU |
TEN MOST RECENT WINNERS
2012 – Manti Te’o, Notre Dame
2013 – Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh
2014 – Scooby Wright III, Arizona
2015 – Tyler Matakevich, Temple
2016 – Jonathan Allen, Alabama
2017 – Bradley Chubb, North Carolina State
2018 – Josh Allen, Kentucky
2019 – Chase Young, Ohio State
2020 – Zaven Collins, Tulsa
2021 – Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
MY PAST TEN WINNERS
The past ten winners I would have chosen for this award after the bowl games (a flaw of college football) and thus taken the entire season into account. I also account for how their overall performance effected their team in a season.
2012 – Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina
2013 – Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh
2014 – Joey Bosa, Ohio State
2015 – Joey Bosa, Ohio State
2016 – Myles Garrett, Texas A&M
2017 – Roquan Smith, Georgia
2018 – Josh Allen, Kentucky
2019 – Chase Young, Ohio State
2020 – Zaven Collins, Tulsa
2021 – Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
MY TOP TEN FOR 2022
- Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
- Noah Sewell, Oregon
- Zach Harrison, Ohio State
- Clark Phillips, Utah
- Payton Wilgar, BYU
- Will McDonald IV, Iowa State
- Ronnie Hickman, Ohio State
- Joey Porter, Penn State
- Henry To’oto’o, Alabama
- Steven Jones Jr., App State