Today, the Football Writers Association of America released its 2026 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List selecting 68 defensive standouts as contenders for the national defensive player of the year. Their list includes players from 47 different schools and all 10 Division I FBS conferences plus independents. Two names that Tigers’ fans will recognize are LSU LB Whit Weeks and DE Princewill Umanmielen. Weeks was also on the 2025 list. 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 Bronko Nagurski 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.Following is the complete 2026 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Preseason Watch List:DE Melkart Abou Jaoude, North CarolinaLB Rolijah Hardy, IndianaCB Ty Redmond, TennesseeLB Xavier Atkins, AuburnS Simeon Harris, Fresno StateLB Ben Roberts, Texas TechLB Rasheem Biles, TexasDT A.J. Holmes Jr., Texas TechLB Kam Robinson, VirginiaS KJ Bolden, GeorgiaLB Baron Hopson, Kennesaw StateLB Matt Rose, StanfordLB Drayk Bowen, Notre DameS Bray Hubbard, AlabamaS Faletau Satuala, BYULB Sammy Brown, ClemsonDE Kenyatta Jackson Jr., Ohio StateDE Colin Simmons, TexasLB Taye Brown, ArizonaCB Will James, HoustonDE Anthony Smith, MinnesotaCB Zabien Brown, AlabamaS Jamel Johnson, TCUDE Donnie Smith, TroyDT Kemari Copeland, Virginia TechLB Isaiah Jones, IndianaDE Dylan Stewart, South CarolinaDE John Henry Daley, MichiganCB Kelley Jones, Mississippi StateDT David Stone, OklahomaDT CJ Doggette Jr., Florida AtlanticDE Dylan LaBarbera, NevadaDE MJ Stroud, Georgia SouthernDT Will Echoles, Ole MissLB Kip Lewis, OklahomaS Jack Tchienchou, TulaneLB Jaxton Eck, New MexicoS Bryce Llewellyn, Eastern MichiganDT Boubacar Traore, Notre DameS Koen Entringer, LouisvilleDE Clev Lubin, LouisvilleDT Tyrique Tucker, IndianaCB Tre’Quon Fegans, Jax StateS Zach Lutmer, IowaLB Cade Uluave, BYUS Amare Ferrell, IndianaS Jaylen McClain, Ohio StateDE Princewill Umanmielen, LSUCB Brandon Finney Jr., OregonCB Leonard Moore, Notre DameDE Jayden Virgin-Morgan, Boise StateDT C.J. Fite, Arizona StateDT Ahmad Moten Sr., MiamiDT A’Mauri Washington, OregonS Bryce Fitzgerald, MiamiS Koi Perich, OregonLB Whit Weeks, LSULB Blake Fletcher, Air ForceLB Suntarine Perkins, Ole MissLB Raylen Wilson, GeorgiaNB Josh Franklin, Western MichiganLB Colton Phares, App StateDE Damon Wilson II, MiamiLB Isaiah Glasker, BYUCB Brice Pollock, Texas TechLB Daniel Wingate, MarylandS Brevin Hamblin, Utah StateS Marcus Ratcliffe, Texas A&M The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the association’s full membership, selects a 26-man All-America Team and eventually the Bronko Nagurski Trophy finalists. Committee members, by individual ballot, select the winner they regard as the best defensive player in college football.The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce the finalists for the 2026 trophy on November 19th. The official presentation to the recipient of the 2026 Bronko Nagurski Trophy will be at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet in Charlotte, N.C. on December 7th.

Source: Yahoo Sports