COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Senior defensive back Antoine Brooks Jr. is among the candidates on the preseason watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which is presented annually to the nation's top defensive player.
Brooks, who was last week named to the Bednarik Award Watch List, led the Terps with 9.5 tackles for loss en route to being named Second Team All-Big Ten during his junior campaign in 2018. A dynamic playmaker that started all 12 games last year, Brooks ranked third on the team with 68 tackles.
A Lanham native, Brooks was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after leading the team with 11 tackles and snagging the game-sealing interception in Maryland's 2018 season-opening win over Texas. Brooks also finished the 2018 campaign exceptionally strong, tallying at least five tackles in each of the final four games.
In his sophomore season in 2017, Brooks led the Big Ten in tackles for loss (9.5) by a defensive back in regular season and led the Terps in solo tackles (53), while ranking second in total tackles (77). In his career, Brooks has tallied 103 solo tackles, 150 total tackles, 19 tackles for loss and three interceptions.
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 2019 Bronko Nagurski Trophy on Nov. 20.
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.
The 25th Annual Bronko Nagurski Trophy Banquet, will be held on Dec. 9 at the Charlotte Convention Center. 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.
Brooks, who was last week named to the Bednarik Award Watch List, led the Terps with 9.5 tackles for loss en route to being named Second Team All-Big Ten during his junior campaign in 2018. A dynamic playmaker that started all 12 games last year, Brooks ranked third on the team with 68 tackles.
A Lanham native, Brooks was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after leading the team with 11 tackles and snagging the game-sealing interception in Maryland's 2018 season-opening win over Texas. Brooks also finished the 2018 campaign exceptionally strong, tallying at least five tackles in each of the final four games.
In his sophomore season in 2017, Brooks led the Big Ten in tackles for loss (9.5) by a defensive back in regular season and led the Terps in solo tackles (53), while ranking second in total tackles (77). In his career, Brooks has tallied 103 solo tackles, 150 total tackles, 19 tackles for loss and three interceptions.
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 2019 Bronko Nagurski Trophy on Nov. 20.
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.
The 25th Annual Bronko Nagurski Trophy Banquet, will be held on Dec. 9 at the Charlotte Convention Center. 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.
