James Sanders Named to Nagurski Trophy Watch List

Aug. 20, 2004

FRESNO, Calif. - Junior strong safety James Sanders has been placed on the Watch List for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, presented annually to the nation's best defensive player. The winner of the Nagurski Trophy, presented by the Football Writers Association of America and the Charlotte Touchdown Club, will be named on Dec. 6 at a banquet in Charlotte, N.C. Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops will be the keynote speaker. The Watch List serves as a guide to the best players in the game and is updated each week during the college football season. Last season's Bronko Nagurski winner was Oklahoma defensive back Derrick Strait, who was the second Sooner to win the award in three seasons. Oklahoma defensive back Roy Williams won the award in 2001. Though he has only played only two years, Sanders has quickly established himself as one of the top safeties on the West Coast. Last season, he was the only sophomore named first-team All-WAC after racking up a team-high 93 tackles, including 8.5 for loss and two sacks. In his two years as a Bulldog, the Porterville, Calif., native has totaled 175 tackles, the most of any active Fresno State player. He was one of eight WAC players to be named to the Watch List. Sanders and the Bulldogs open the 2004 season Sept. 5 at Washington. The home opener is Sept. 18 against Portland State. For season tickets, please click on the TICKETS link at the top of this page or contact the Fresno State Ticket Office at (559) 278-DOGS.

Nagurski Trophy Watch List

Muhammad Abdullah, DB, Kentucky

Adam Jones, CB, West Virginia

Allan Adami, DT, SMU

Eric King, DB, Wake Forest

Brian Atkinson, LB, Northern Illinois

James Kinney, LB, Missouri

Andy Avalos, LB, Boise State

Mathias Kiwanuka, DE, Boston College

Adrian Awasom, DE, North Texas

Maurice Lloyd, LB, Connecticut

Jermaine Berry, DT, Kansas State

Jamus Martin, DE, Marshall

Jason Berryman, DE, Iowa State

Donnie McCleskey, DB, California

Jamaal Brimmer, DB, UNLV

Mitch Meeuwsen, FS, Oregon State

Michael Boley, LB, Southern Miss

Eric Moore, DE, Florida St.

Nick Bunting, LB, Tulsa

Zach Morris, NG, Wyoming

Kevin Burnett, LB, Tennessee

Kirk Morrison, LB, San Diego State

Chris Canty, DE, Virginia

Terna Nande, LB, Miami (Ohio)

Shaun Cody, DT-DE, USC

David Pollack, DE, Georgia

Channing Crowder, LB, Florida

Brady Poppinga, DE, BYU

Will Derting, LB, Washington State

Josh Powell, DB, San Jose State

Diamond Ferri, SS, Syracuse

Julius Roberts, DE, Boise State

Dan Cody, DE, Oklahoma

Robert Rodriguez, LB, UTEP

Trent Cole, DE, Cincinnati

Matt Roth, DE, Iowa

Justin Crooks, LB, Baylor

DeMeco Ryans, LB, Alabama

Adell Duckett, DE, Texas Tech

James Sanders, DB, Fresno State

Simon Fraser, DE, Ohio State

Morgan Scalley, DB, Utah

Orien Harris, DT., Miami

Marcus Spears, DE, LSU

Spencer Havner, LB, UCLA

John Syptak, DE, Rice

Jovan Haye, DE, Vanderbilt

Pat Thomas, LB, N.C. State

Anttaj Hawthorne, DT, Wisconsin

Justin Tuck, DE, Notre Dame

Eric Henderson, DE, Georgia Tech

Rian Wallace, LB, Temple

Leroy Hill, LB, Clemson

Darrent Williams, DB, Oklahoma State

D'Qwell Jackson, LB, Maryland

Jimmy Williams, DB, Virginia Tech

Derrick Johnson, LB, Texas

Pierre Woods, LB, Michigan

Jarvis Johnson, SS, Rutgers

Zac Woodfin, LB, UAB

Fresno State Athletics

James Sanders Named to Nagurski Trophy Watch List

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