Latest news with #NagurskiTrophy
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Four Clemson football starters named to preseason watch list for 2025 Lombardi Award
More preseason honors rolled in for four Clemson football starters Tuesday. Defensive linemen T.J. Parker and Peter Woods were named to the preseason Lombardi Award watch list, as were linebacker Sammy Brown and offensive tackle Blake Miller. The Lombardi Award annually recognizes the nation's best down lineman on either offense or defense "who best embodies the character, discipline, and excellence of NFL Hall of Fame head coach Vince Lombardi, while also demonstrating outstanding performance and ability on the field." Clemson tied the Alabama Crimson Tide and Texas Longhorns for programs with the most players named to the 2025 Lombardi watch list. It's the latest in a string of preseason accolades for the four Tigers. Woods was named to the Walter Camp Player of the Year watch list, as was senior quarterback Cade Klubnik. The 6-foot-3, 315-pound defensive tackle was also named to the preseason watch lists for the Nagurski Trophy, Bednarik Award and Outland Trophy. Woods enters his junior season after playing in 11 games (10 starts) a year ago. He had 28 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and a forced fumble as a sophomore. In two seasons at Clemson, Woods has recorded 54 tackles (31 solo), 11 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles over 23 games. Parker, the Tigers' 6-foot-3, 265-pound edge rusher, started all 14 games last season and has played in all 27 games since his freshman season in 2023. He had 57 tackles (35 solo) and had 11 sacks, 19.5 tackles for loss, and six forced fumbles to go with two fumble recoveries in 2024. Parker was also named to the Nagurski Trophy and and Bednarik Award watch lists. Brown, a 6-foot-2, 235-pound linebacker, is coming off a true freshman season in which he played in 12 games (six starts) and made 80 tackles with 11.5 tackles for loss and five sacks. He was previously named to the preseason Butkus Award watch list along with senior Wade Woodaz. Miller is set to enter his fourth season as an anchor of the offensive line and was previously named to the Outland Trophy watch list. The 6-foot-6, 315-pound lineman has started all 41 games for the Tigers at right tackle since his freshman season in 2022. Clemson football players on 2025 preseason award watch lists Here's an updated look at Clemson players named to various preseason watch lists ahead of 2025. Clemson football schedule 2025 Clemson opens the 2025 season against the LSU Tigers at Memorial Stadium in primetime on Aug. 30. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on ABC. Clemson is ranked No. 6 in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll and No. 4 in the preseason AP poll. LSU is ranked No. 9 in both polls. All times Eastern. Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.
USA Today
01-08-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Pair of Oklahoma Sooners named to Butkus Award watch list
The Oklahoma Sooners have a defense that is ready to contend in the SEC. It's a group full of blue-chip players at every level of the defense. Although the Sooners will be replacing star linebacker Danny Stutsman, they've got a good group of linebackers that have been in Brent Venables ' program for several years now. On Wednesday, a pair of Sooners were named to the Butkus Award watch list: Kip Lewis and Sammy Omosigho. The Butkus Award is given to college football's top linebacker. Lewis was also named to the Nagurski Trophy watch list earlier this week. He's going into his fourth season with the Sooners and has become one of the best players on the defense over the last several years with his penchant for big plays. Lewis' speed and athleticism have made him a nightmare in coverage. In 2024, Lewis returned an interception for a touchdown in Oklahoma's wins over Auburn and Alabama. Lewis finished last season with 65 total tackles and four tackles for loss. Omosigho is every bit the athlete that Lewis is. The former four-star prospect is in a camp battle with fellow former four-star Kobie McKinzie. Omosigho saw 301 snaps last season and was fifth on the team with 39 total tackles. He also had five tackles for loss, a pass defensed, and a forced fumble in a rotational role for the Sooners. Oklahoma has taken home the Butkus Award four times. Brian Bosworth, the only two-time winner of the award, earned the honor back in 1985 and 1986. Rocky Calmus won the Butkus in 2001 and Teddy Lehman won it in 2003. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.
USA Today
01-08-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Oklahoma safety named to Wuerffel Trophy watch list
As the calendar turns to August, the 2025 college football season is now less than a month away. Fall camp is in full swing and watch lists have begun to drop. The Oklahoma Sooners had a pair of offensive stars land on the Maxwell Award watch list, and linebacker Kip Lewis is in the early running for the Nagurski Trophy. Lewis, along with fellow linebacker Sammy Omosigho were named to the Butkus Award watch list on Tuesday. On Thursday, another Sooner found his way onto a preseason watch list: safety Robert Spears-Jennings. The Tulsa native was named to the Wuerffel Trophy watch list. The Wuerffel Trophy goes to the college football player who best "exemplify community service, academic excellence and athletic achievement." Spears-Jennings had a breakout season in 2024, finishing second on the team in total tackles and also showing off his prowess as a blitzer off the edge. He's the leader in the secondary and brings a fast and physical approach to the game of football. But Spears-Jennings has also proven capable in the classroom, earning a spot on the 2024 SEC Academic Honor Roll last fall. With Billy Bowman off to the NFL, Spears-Jennings has taken on more of a leadership role on the defense. He's been in Brent Venables system for four seasons now and has improved every year he's been on campus. Now the veteran in the secondary, Spears-Jennings is looking to take advantage of an opportunity to be one of the best players for Venables' defense in 2025. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.
USA Today
29-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Alabama defensive trio named to preseason watch list for top college football award
Announced on Tuesday afternoon, three Alabama Crimson Tide players have been named to the preseason watch list for the 2025 Bronko Nagurski Trophy. Those players are defensive linemen LT Overton and Tim Keenan III, as well as inside linebacker Deontae Lawson, each of which return as starters from last season. Of those three, Overton was the lone new face to Alabama a year ago after transferring from Texas A&M, and went on to have a career-year at Alabama a year ago where he had 42 tackles, three TFL, and two sacks. Keenan will also return as a starter alongside Overton on Alabama's defensive line coming off a season where he had 40 tackles, eight TFL, and 2.5 sacks. Lawson will do the same at inside linebacker coming off an injury-shortened season where he had 76 tackles, seven TFL, two sacks, and an interception. The Nagurski Trophy is presented annually to the top defensive player in college football. Alabama has only won the award three times before, which were Jonathan Allen in 2016, as well as back-to-back seasons from Will Anderson Jr. in 2021-22. Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.
USA Today
05-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Elvis Dumervil among 6 ex-Broncos nominated for College Football Hall of Fame
Elvis Dumervil among 6 ex-Broncos nominated for College Football Hall of Fame A half-dozen former Denver Broncos players are candidates for the College Football Hall of Fame's 2026 class. The list is headlined by former defensive lineman Elvis Dumervil, who was named a unanimous first-team All-American and won the Nagurski Trophy after leading the nation with 20 sacks in 2005. Dumervil went on to play for the Broncos from 2006-2012, totaling 63.5 sacks (eighth-most in franchise history). Also on the list of nominees are running back Reggie Rivers (who spent his six-year pro career in Denver), tight end Vernon Davis (who won Super Bowl 50 with the Broncos), cornerback Tyrone Poole (who played two seasons in Denver), pass rusher Simeon Rice (who had a brief late-career stint with the Broncos) and running back Garrison Hearst (who finished his career in Denver). Ex-Broncos nominated for College HOF DE Elvis Dumervil RB Reggie Rivers TE Vernon Davis CB Tyrone Poole DE Simeon Rice RB Garrison Hearst There are 179 players and 44 coaches nominated for next year's class. Meanwhile, former Broncos running back Montee Ball will be officially inducted into the CFHOF as a member of the 2025 class on Dec. 9 in Las Vegas. Related: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
