TEMPE, Ariz. – Arizona State junior defensive lineman JoJo Wicker has been named to the watch list for the annual Bronko Nagurski Trophy, as announced today by the Football Writers Association of America.
Presented by the FWAA and the Charlotte (N.C.) Touchdown Club, the Nagurski Trophy is named in honor of Bronko Nagurski, a charter member of the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Nagurski played tackle, fullback, defensive end and lineman at the University of Minnesota (1927-1929) and with the NFL Chicago Bears (1930-1937, 1943).
The Nagurski Trophy honors the nation's best defensive college football player. Created in 1993, its original intent was to serve as a defense equivalent to the Heisman Trophy, which at the time had never been awarded to a defensive player.
Wicker was second in tackles for loss for the Sun Devils last season (11.0), and recorded 39 tackles overall, earning second-team All-Pac-12 honors. Coming into 2017, Wicker is a second-team All-Pac-12 preseason selection by Athlon Sports.
Wicker is the third Sun Devil defender, and fourth student-athlete overall, to be selected for postseason award consideration. Earlier this week, senior running back Kalen Ballage was selected to the Maxwell Trophy Award watch list and senior defensive lineman Tashon Smallwood was named to the watch list for the Bednarik Trophy and nominated for the Allstate/AFCA Good Works Team. In May, senior linebacker Koron Crump was placed on the watch list for the Lott IMPACT Trophy.
The Bronco Nagurski Trophy will be presented at its annual banquet, Monday, December 4, at the Charlotte Convention Center.
Presented by the FWAA and the Charlotte (N.C.) Touchdown Club, the Nagurski Trophy is named in honor of Bronko Nagurski, a charter member of the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Nagurski played tackle, fullback, defensive end and lineman at the University of Minnesota (1927-1929) and with the NFL Chicago Bears (1930-1937, 1943).
The Nagurski Trophy honors the nation's best defensive college football player. Created in 1993, its original intent was to serve as a defense equivalent to the Heisman Trophy, which at the time had never been awarded to a defensive player.
Wicker was second in tackles for loss for the Sun Devils last season (11.0), and recorded 39 tackles overall, earning second-team All-Pac-12 honors. Coming into 2017, Wicker is a second-team All-Pac-12 preseason selection by Athlon Sports.
Wicker is the third Sun Devil defender, and fourth student-athlete overall, to be selected for postseason award consideration. Earlier this week, senior running back Kalen Ballage was selected to the Maxwell Trophy Award watch list and senior defensive lineman Tashon Smallwood was named to the watch list for the Bednarik Trophy and nominated for the Allstate/AFCA Good Works Team. In May, senior linebacker Koron Crump was placed on the watch list for the Lott IMPACT Trophy.
The Bronco Nagurski Trophy will be presented at its annual banquet, Monday, December 4, at the Charlotte Convention Center.