Nagurski Trophy Watch List Includes Four Huskies
July 13, 2017 | Football
Four Husky football players have been named to the preseason watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, given annually to the nation's best college defensive player.
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Defensive linemen Greg Gaines and Vita Vea, safety Taylor Rapp and linebacker Azeem Victor were all given a spot on the preseason list.
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Gaines, a senior from La Habra, Calif., was a second-team Academic All-Pac-12 and honorable All-Pac-12 pick last year, when he started all 14 games. He was also honorable mention all-conference as a redshirt freshman in 2015.
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Rapp, a sophomore from Bellingham, Wash., was the Pac-12's Defensive Freshman of the Year and a freshman All-America selection in 2016, when he was also the Pac-12 Championship Game MVP. As a true freshman, he notched 53 tackles and four interceptions.
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Vea, a junior from Milpitas, Calif., is considered one of the nation's top defensive tackle prospects. He earned second-team All-Pac-12 and Academic All-Pac-12 last year.
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Victor, a senior from Compton, Calif., was also an All-Pac-12 first-teamer in 2016, when he finished the season with 67 tackles in 10 games. He was also honorable mention All-Pac-12 in 2015, when he was 10th in the conference in total tackles.
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Watch lists for 16 college football awards are being announced during this two-week stretch in July. Here's the full schedule:
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Monday July 10: Bednarik Award / Maxwell Award
Tuesday July 11: Mackey Award / Rimington Trophy
Wednesday July 12: Lou Groza Award / Ray Guy Award
Thursday July 13: Bronko Nagurski Trophy / Outland Trophy
Friday July 14: Jim Thorpe Award
Monday July 17: Butkus Award / Paul Hornung Award
Tuesday July 18: Biletnikoff Award / Wuerffel Trophy
Wednesday July 19: Davey O'Brien Award
Thursday July 20: Doak Walker Award
Friday July 21: Walter Camp Award
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Defensive linemen Greg Gaines and Vita Vea, safety Taylor Rapp and linebacker Azeem Victor were all given a spot on the preseason list.
ย
Gaines, a senior from La Habra, Calif., was a second-team Academic All-Pac-12 and honorable All-Pac-12 pick last year, when he started all 14 games. He was also honorable mention all-conference as a redshirt freshman in 2015.
ย
Rapp, a sophomore from Bellingham, Wash., was the Pac-12's Defensive Freshman of the Year and a freshman All-America selection in 2016, when he was also the Pac-12 Championship Game MVP. As a true freshman, he notched 53 tackles and four interceptions.
ย
Vea, a junior from Milpitas, Calif., is considered one of the nation's top defensive tackle prospects. He earned second-team All-Pac-12 and Academic All-Pac-12 last year.
ย
Victor, a senior from Compton, Calif., was also an All-Pac-12 first-teamer in 2016, when he finished the season with 67 tackles in 10 games. He was also honorable mention All-Pac-12 in 2015, when he was 10th in the conference in total tackles.
ย
Watch lists for 16 college football awards are being announced during this two-week stretch in July. Here's the full schedule:
ย
Monday July 10: Bednarik Award / Maxwell Award
Tuesday July 11: Mackey Award / Rimington Trophy
Wednesday July 12: Lou Groza Award / Ray Guy Award
Thursday July 13: Bronko Nagurski Trophy / Outland Trophy
Friday July 14: Jim Thorpe Award
Monday July 17: Butkus Award / Paul Hornung Award
Tuesday July 18: Biletnikoff Award / Wuerffel Trophy
Wednesday July 19: Davey O'Brien Award
Thursday July 20: Doak Walker Award
Friday July 21: Walter Camp Award
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Players Mentioned
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