Another Aggie has been named to a watch list--safety Armani Watts has been named to the 2017 Bronko Nagurski Trophy.
TEXAS A&M FOOTBALL
For Immediate Release:
Thursday, July 13, 2017
Texas A&M’s Watts named to Bronko Nagurski Trophy “watch list”
DALLAS -- Texas A&M senior play-maker Armani Watts has been named to preseason “watch list” for the 2017 Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which is given annually to the national defensive player of the year in college football by the Charlotte Touchdown Club and the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA).
Watts, a safety from Forney, Texas, enters 2017 as the Aggies’ active leader in tackles, interceptions (tie) and passes broken up (tie) with 241 career stops, six interceptions and 14 PBUs. In 2016, Watts was among an elite group of Southeastern Conference defenders with at least two tackles for loss, pickoffs, PBU, forced fumbles and recovered fumbles. He also grabbed the game-winning interception in the Aggies’ double-overtime victory over then-No. 9 Tennessee in 2016.
Watts, who represented Texas A&M at the SEC Media Days on Wednesday, was also listed on the Bednarik Award watch list (college defensive player of the year by the Maxwell Football Club).
The 2017 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List boasts 103 defensive standouts from all 10 Division I FBS conferences, including four returning players from last season’s Football Writers Association of America All-America team. The list includes 30 defensive backs, 29 linebackers, 25 defensive ends and 19 defensive tackles, all vying for the award representing college football’s best defensive player.
Players may be added or removed from the watch list during the course of the season. As in previous seasons, the FWAA will announce a National Defensive Player of the Week each Tuesday throughout the 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 2017 Bronko Nagurski Trophy on Thurs., Nov. 16.
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner 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.
Texas A&M’s “Watch List” Watch
Bronko Nagurski Trophy (Presented to the national defensive player of the year by the Charlotte Touchdown Club and the Football Writers Association of America)
Armani Watts, DB, Sr-3L, Forney, Texas
Maxwell Award (Presented to the college player of the year by the Maxwell Football Club)
Christian Kirk, WR/RS, Jr-2L, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Trayveon Williams, RB, So-1L, Houston, Texas
Bednarik Award (Presented to the college defensive player of the year by the Maxwell Football Club)
Armani Watts, DB, Sr-3L, Forney, Texas
Rimington Trophy (Presented to the nation's premier center by the Boomer Esiason Foundation)
Colton Prater, OL, So-1L, Bossier City, La.
Ray Guy Award (Presented to the college punter of the year by the Augusta Sports Council)
Shane Tripucka, P, Sr-1L, Allen, Texas
Allstate AFCA Good Works Team (Honors dedication to volunteerism and enriching the lives of others)
Koda Martin, OL, Jr-2L, Manvel, Texas
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Upcoming Watch List Announcements:
Fri., July 14: Jim Thorpe Award
Mon., July 17: Butkus Award/Paul Hornung Award
Tues., July 18: Biletnikoff Award/Wuerffel Trophy
Wed., July 19: Davey O’Brien Award
Thurs., July 20: Doak Walker Award
Fri., July 21: Walter Camp Award
Tues., Aug. 15: Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award
TEXAS A&M FOOTBALL
For Immediate Release:
Thursday, July 13, 2017
Texas A&M’s Watts named to Bronko Nagurski Trophy “watch list”
DALLAS -- Texas A&M senior play-maker Armani Watts has been named to preseason “watch list” for the 2017 Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which is given annually to the national defensive player of the year in college football by the Charlotte Touchdown Club and the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA).
Watts, a safety from Forney, Texas, enters 2017 as the Aggies’ active leader in tackles, interceptions (tie) and passes broken up (tie) with 241 career stops, six interceptions and 14 PBUs. In 2016, Watts was among an elite group of Southeastern Conference defenders with at least two tackles for loss, pickoffs, PBU, forced fumbles and recovered fumbles. He also grabbed the game-winning interception in the Aggies’ double-overtime victory over then-No. 9 Tennessee in 2016.
Watts, who represented Texas A&M at the SEC Media Days on Wednesday, was also listed on the Bednarik Award watch list (college defensive player of the year by the Maxwell Football Club).
The 2017 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List boasts 103 defensive standouts from all 10 Division I FBS conferences, including four returning players from last season’s Football Writers Association of America All-America team. The list includes 30 defensive backs, 29 linebackers, 25 defensive ends and 19 defensive tackles, all vying for the award representing college football’s best defensive player.
Players may be added or removed from the watch list during the course of the season. As in previous seasons, the FWAA will announce a National Defensive Player of the Week each Tuesday throughout the 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 2017 Bronko Nagurski Trophy on Thurs., Nov. 16.
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner 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.
Texas A&M’s “Watch List” Watch
Bronko Nagurski Trophy (Presented to the national defensive player of the year by the Charlotte Touchdown Club and the Football Writers Association of America)
Armani Watts, DB, Sr-3L, Forney, Texas
Maxwell Award (Presented to the college player of the year by the Maxwell Football Club)
Christian Kirk, WR/RS, Jr-2L, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Trayveon Williams, RB, So-1L, Houston, Texas
Bednarik Award (Presented to the college defensive player of the year by the Maxwell Football Club)
Armani Watts, DB, Sr-3L, Forney, Texas
Rimington Trophy (Presented to the nation's premier center by the Boomer Esiason Foundation)
Colton Prater, OL, So-1L, Bossier City, La.
Ray Guy Award (Presented to the college punter of the year by the Augusta Sports Council)
Shane Tripucka, P, Sr-1L, Allen, Texas
Allstate AFCA Good Works Team (Honors dedication to volunteerism and enriching the lives of others)
Koda Martin, OL, Jr-2L, Manvel, Texas
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Upcoming Watch List Announcements:
Fri., July 14: Jim Thorpe Award
Mon., July 17: Butkus Award/Paul Hornung Award
Tues., July 18: Biletnikoff Award/Wuerffel Trophy
Wed., July 19: Davey O’Brien Award
Thurs., July 20: Doak Walker Award
Fri., July 21: Walter Camp Award
Tues., Aug. 15: Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award
