Fresno State Athletics
Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list reveals Justin Rice one of four MW candidates
7/21/2020 10:00:00 AM | Football
DALLAS – Fresno State senior linebacker Justin Rice was selected on Tuesday for the 2020 Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list, as announced by the Football Writers Association of America, in conjunction with the Charlotte Touchdown Club.
The Bronko Nagurski award honors the FWAA's national defensive player of the year. Rice is one of four Mountain West players on the watch list for the annual award presented by the FWAA since 1993, and one of 98 players overall.
Tuesday's announcement signals Rice's second watch list during the 10-day period of NCFAA and its affiliated organizations preseason watch lists (July 13-24). On July 13, Rice was named to the Chuck Bednarik Award watch list. The Bednarik award similarly honors a defensive player of the year, but it is awarded by the Maxwell Football Club.
For the complete Nagurski Trophy watch list, visit www.sportswriters.net/fwaa.
A glance at Rice:
A season ago, Mykal Walker was named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list. Walker, alike Rice in 2020, was also named to the Bednarik Award watch list in 2019.
Bronko Nagurski Trophy
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 FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce five finalists for the 2020 Bronko Nagurski Trophy.
The winner of the 2020 Bronko Nagurski Trophy presented by LendingTree as the National Defensive Player of the Year will be chosen from those five finalists. 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. Committee members, by individual ballot, select the winner they regard as the best defensive player in college football.
The FWAA has chosen a National Defensive Player of the Year since 1993. In 1995, the FWAA named the award in honor of the legendary two-way player from the University of Minnesota. Nagurski dominated college football, then became a star for professional football's Chicago Bears in the 1930s. Bronislaw "Bronko" Nagurski is a charter member of both the College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame.
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 25 awards now boast over 800 recipients, dating to 1935. Visit ncfaa.org and @NCFAA on Twitter to learn more about the association.
The following is the entire 2020 preseason watch list calendar:
Monday, July 13: Bednarik Award ~ Justin Rice
Tuesday, July 14: Davey O'Brien Award
Wednesday, July 15: Doak Walker Award ~ Ronnie Rivers
Thursday, July 16: Biletnikoff Award
Friday, July 17: Mackey Award
Monday, July 20: Thorpe Award & Butkus Award
Tuesday, July 21: Outland Trophy & Nagurski Award
Wednesday, July 22: Groza Award & Ray Guy Award
Thursday, July 23: Hornung Award & Wuerffel Trophy
Friday, July 24: Maxwell Award
"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley ''– The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please visit bulldogfoundation.org.
The Bronko Nagurski award honors the FWAA's national defensive player of the year. Rice is one of four Mountain West players on the watch list for the annual award presented by the FWAA since 1993, and one of 98 players overall.
Tuesday's announcement signals Rice's second watch list during the 10-day period of NCFAA and its affiliated organizations preseason watch lists (July 13-24). On July 13, Rice was named to the Chuck Bednarik Award watch list. The Bednarik award similarly honors a defensive player of the year, but it is awarded by the Maxwell Football Club.
For the complete Nagurski Trophy watch list, visit www.sportswriters.net/fwaa.
A glance at Rice:
- Named to 2020 Bednarik Award preseason watch list.
- Named a 2019 All-Mountain West first team selection.
- Racked up 112 total tackles to lead Fresno State and rank third in the Mountain West in '19.
- Ranked fourth in the MW with 9.3 tackles per game; also good for 21st-most in the FBS in '19.
- He was one of 13 players in the FBS to force four fumbles or better, and one of three players to accomplish that feat playing in 12 games or less in '19.
- Caused six total turnovers, snagging two interceptions in addition to four forced fumbles in '19.
- Recovered two fumbles and returned one for a touchdown versus UNLV on Oct. 18, 2019. It was the first time a Bulldog returned a fumble recovery since 2013.
- Owned second-most TFLs on the team with seven in '19; also had two sacks.
A season ago, Mykal Walker was named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list. Walker, alike Rice in 2020, was also named to the Bednarik Award watch list in 2019.
Bronko Nagurski Trophy
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 FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce five finalists for the 2020 Bronko Nagurski Trophy.
The winner of the 2020 Bronko Nagurski Trophy presented by LendingTree as the National Defensive Player of the Year will be chosen from those five finalists. 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. Committee members, by individual ballot, select the winner they regard as the best defensive player in college football.
The FWAA has chosen a National Defensive Player of the Year since 1993. In 1995, the FWAA named the award in honor of the legendary two-way player from the University of Minnesota. Nagurski dominated college football, then became a star for professional football's Chicago Bears in the 1930s. Bronislaw "Bronko" Nagurski is a charter member of both the College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame.
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 25 awards now boast over 800 recipients, dating to 1935. Visit ncfaa.org and @NCFAA on Twitter to learn more about the association.
The following is the entire 2020 preseason watch list calendar:
Monday, July 13: Bednarik Award ~ Justin Rice
Tuesday, July 14: Davey O'Brien Award
Wednesday, July 15: Doak Walker Award ~ Ronnie Rivers
Thursday, July 16: Biletnikoff Award
Friday, July 17: Mackey Award
Monday, July 20: Thorpe Award & Butkus Award
Tuesday, July 21: Outland Trophy & Nagurski Award
Wednesday, July 22: Groza Award & Ray Guy Award
Thursday, July 23: Hornung Award & Wuerffel Trophy
Friday, July 24: Maxwell Award
"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley ''– The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please visit bulldogfoundation.org.
Players Mentioned
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