The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Acho, Brown, Williams named to Nagurski Trophy watch list
06.22.2010 | Football
June 22, 2010
Senior DL Sam Acho, senior CB Curtis Brown and junior CB Aaron Williams have been named to the watch list for the 2010 Nagurski Trophy, honoring the nation's top defensive player, the Charlotte Touchdown Club has announced.
Two Longhorns have won the Nagurski Trophy in the last six years, including DE Brian Orakpo in 2008 and LB Derrick Johnson in 2004.
Acho has played in 38 career games, starting 14, and posted 89 tackles (59 solo), 14.5 sacks, 20 TFL, 26 pressures, seven PBD, four fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles. He is already a member of the prestigious Playboy Preseason All-America team for 2010 and is a member of the 2010 Lombardi Award (nation's top lineman), Lott Trophy (nation's top defensive IMPACT player) and Outland Trophy (nation's top interior lineman) preseason watch lists.
A semifinalist for the Lott Trophy, an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection and an ESPN The Magazine first-team Academic All-American in 2009, Acho helped UT rank 12th nationally in scoring defense (16.7 ppg), third in total defense (251.9 ypg) and first in rushing defense (72.4 ypg), while starting all 14 games. He tallied 63 tackles (44 solo), 14 TFL, 10 sacks, 15 pressures, three PBD, four fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles. He led the team in sacks (10) and fumble recoveries (four). The 10 sacks were tied for 20th on the NCAA list and the four fumble recoveries tied for the most nationally (t-No. 3 UT single-season).
Brown has appeared in 40 games and has started 18 of the last 20 games at cornerback. He earned honorable mention All-America honors from Pro Football Weekly in 2009 and was an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection. During his career, Brown has compiled 94 tackles (69 solo), an INT, which he returned 77 yards for a TD, 25 PBU, two TFL, a forced fumble and a blocked punt.
Last season, Brown started all 14 games, posting 53 tackles (34 solo), an INT, which he returned for a TD, 15 PBU, two TFL, a forced fumble and a blocked punt. His 16 passes defended tied for 19th nationally and his 15 PBU ranked second on the team. Also a member of all of Texas' special-teams units except PAT and FG, Brown posted 15 special-teams tackles, which is the most at UT since 2003. He helped UT rank 12th nationally in scoring defense (16.7 ppg), third in total defense (251.9 ypg), first in rushing defense (72.4 ypg), 10th in pass efficiency defense (100.5 rating) and 19th in pass defense (179.6 ypg). UT also ranked first nationally in INTs (25) and tied for first in forced turnovers (37).
Williams has appeared in 26 games, including 14 starts, posting 60 tackles (34 solo), two sacks, seven TFL, three pressures, four INTs, 11 PBU, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and four blocked punts (T-No. 2 on UT's all-time list).
Last season, Williams started 13 games, missing the UCF game due to a leg injury. He tallied 44 tackles (25 solo), two sacks, six TFL, three pressures, three INTs, eight PBU and two forced fumbles. Against UT's four Top 25 opponents, Williams recorded 11 tackles, two INTs, three PBU and a sack. He helped UT rank 12th nationally in scoring defense (16.7 ppg), third in total defense (251.9 ypg), first in rushing defense (72.4 ypg), 10th in pass efficiency defense (100.5 rating) and 19th in pass defense (179.6 ypg). UT also ranked first nationally in INTs (25) and tied for first in forced turnovers (37).
The Nagurski Trophy has been presented since 1993 and is awarded in memory of the legendary Bronko Nagurski, an All-America lineman at Minnesota in 1927-29 and a star for professional football's Chicago Bears in the 1930s.
Players may be added or deleted to the Bronko Nagurski watch list during the season. Each week during the 2010 season, the FWAA will choose a Defensive Player of the Week. If that player is not on the Watch List, he automatically will be added. The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce five finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy on November 18.
The annual Bronko Nagurski Trophy Banquet will be on Dec. 6 at the Westin Hotel in Charlotte, N.C.
