The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Football's Barron, Hill Jr. named to Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list
07.30.2024 | Football
The defensive duo of Jahdae Barron and Anthony Hill Jr. were tabbed to the preseason watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which is awarded annually to the best defensive player in college football.
AUSTIN, Texas – Texas senior defensive back Jahdae Barron and sophomore linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. were named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy preseason watch list, the Football Writers Association of American (FWAA) announced Tuesday. The Nagurski Trophy is awarded annually to the best defensive player in college football.
Longhorn Legends Derrick Johnson and Brian Orakpo won the Nagurski Trophy in 2004 and 2008, respectively. Tuesday's announcement marked the first time in Barron and Hill Jr.'s careers that they were unveiled on the trophy's preseason watch list.
A fifth-year defensive back who has played in 41 games with 23 starts, Barron was named a Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist last year. Heading into the 2024 season, Barron was named preseason second-team All-SEC on defense. In 2023, Barron played in 14 games with 12 starts, registering 61 tackles (32 solo), 4.5 tackles for loss, one interception, one fumble recovery and a career-high six pass breakups. A native of Austin, Texas, Barron tallied four tackles (three solo) and had a 16-yard interception return against No. 3 Alabama that shut down the Crimson Tide's first offensive drive and was named the East-West Shrine Bowl Texas Star of the Week following his dominant performance in the win. In the Red River Rivalry versus Oklahoma, Barron had a team-high 11 tackles (five solo) and one tackle for loss. Barron also posted a 10-plus tackle game with 11 (six solo) to go along with one sack and a 0.5 tackle for loss Week 3 against Wyoming. In the Big 12 Championship versus Oklahoma State, Barron recorded two tackles and two pass breakups to seal the conference crown.
Hill Jr. looks to build upon a breakout freshman season in 2023 where he earned a spot on the FWAA's Freshman All-America team to go along with co-Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year honors. The Denton, Texas, product was also named honorable mention All-Big 12, a Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award semifinalist and a Freshman All-America selection by ESPN, The Athletic and the College Football Network. Hill Jr. played in all 14 games with six starts and recorded 66 tackles (40 solo), 8.0 tackles for loss, five sacks, one forced fumble, four quarterback hurries and two pass breakups. His five sacks tied for fourth-most by a Longhorn freshman and are the third-most by a Texas true freshman. The eight tackles for loss by Hill Jr. equaled the eighth-most for a UT freshman and sixth-most for a true freshman. He had a breakout performance in the win at No. 3 Alabama, logging six tackles (four solo stops) with two tackles for loss and two sacks, including one in the Crimson Tide's final offensive play of the game. Following the win at Alabama, Hill Jr. earned Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Week and 247Sports True Freshman of the Week honors.
The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the association's full membership, selects a 26-man All-America Team and eventually the Nagurski Trophy finalists. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner will be chosen from the five finalists named in November. Committee members, by individual ballot, select the winner they regard as the best defensive player in college football.
Players may be added or removed from the watch list during the course of the season. As in previous years, the FWAA will announce a National Defensive Player of the Week each Tuesday this season. If not already on the watch list, each week's honored player will be added at that time.
The Longhorns kick off the season at 2:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, Aug. 31, at home against Colorado State. The game will air on ESPN from inside Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.
