The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Jefferson Named To Bronco Nagurski Trophy Watch List
07.08.2016 | Football
Linebacker recognized as one of the best defensive players in college football
AUSTIN, Texas – Sophomore linebacker Malik Jefferson (Mesquite, Texas) has been named to the 2016 Preseason Watch List for the Bronco Nagurski Trophy, given annually to the best defensive player in college football by the Football Writers Association of America. Jefferson has also garnered recognition as a Preseason All-American and as a member of the watch list for the Bednarik Trophy.
The preseason honors come on the heels of a standout freshman season. Jefferson, who was selected as a freshman All-American a season ago by the Football Writers Associaton of America, Sporting News and USA Today, played in 11 games for the Longhorns. He finished the season with 61 tackles, six pressures and seven tackles for loss, earning the Big 12 Conference's Defensive Freshman of the Year honors. He also earned honorable mention All-Big 12 recognition.
Ranked as the top player in the state of Texas coming out of high school, Jefferson began his career with a strong performance at Notre Dame a season ago, totaling nine tackles and season-high 2.5 tackles for loss. The following week, he helped the Longhorns to their first win of the season, registering nine tackles, one TFL and four pressures, while also returning a fumble for 26 yards and a touchdown against Rice. For the third straight week to begin the season, Jefferson tallied nine takedowns in a one-point loss to Cal. In addition to an impressive start to his career, Jefferson totaled six tackles in a win against Oklahoma to earn Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Players may be added or removed from the watch list during the course of the season. Once again, the FWAA will announce a National Defensive Player of the Week from early September through mid November. If not already on the watch list, the honored player will be added at that time. The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce five finalists for the 2016 Bronko Nagurski Trophy on Thursday, Nov. 17.
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner will be chosen from those five finalists who are part of the 2016 FWAA All-America Team. The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the association's entire membership, selects a 26-man All-America Team and eventually the Nagurski Trophy finalists. Committee members, then by individual ballot, select the winner, the best defensive player in college football.
The annual Bronko Nagurski Trophy Banquet, presented by ACN, will be held on Mon., Dec. 5 at the Westin Hotel in Charlotte. In addition to the 2016 Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner's announcement, the banquet will also celebrate the recipient of the Bronko Nagurski Legends Award, sponsored by the CTC and Florida East Coast Railway. Navy's Chet Moeller, a member of the FWAA's 1975 All-America Team and a College Football Hall of Famer, will be honored. Duke head coach David Cutcliffe will be the keynote speaker at the banquet.
