SEC has national-best 19 players on List
DALLAS (FWAA) – The 2012 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List features the best and brightest of the upcoming season's defensive players.
One of 84 players on the list most likely will receive the Bronko Nagurski Trophy that is awarded annually to the nation's best defensive player by the Football Writers Association of America and the Charlotte Touchdown Club. Every NCAA Division I Bowl Subdivision conference and independents BYU and Notre Dame are represented on the list that is led by 30 standout linebackers.
Players may be added or deleted from the Bronko Nagurski Watch List during the season. For the 12th consecutive season, the FWAA will choose a Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week. If a recipient is not on the Watch List, he will be added. The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce five finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy on Nov. 15.
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner is chosen from five finalists who are part of the FWAA All-America Team. The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the entire membership, selects the 25-man team and eventually the Bronko Nagurski finalists. Committee members, then by individual ballot, select the winner, the best defensive player in America.
The annual Bronko Nagurski Trophy Banquet presented by ACN will be Dec. 3 at the Westin Hotel in Charlotte, N.C. Besides the 2012 winner being announced, the banquet will also celebrate the recipient of the Bronko Nagurski Legends Award presented by Florida East Coast Railway. Nebraska's Larry Jacobson, an end from the FWAA's 1971 All-American team, will be honored. Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly will be the keynote speaker at the banquet.
SEC PLAYERS ON 2012 BRONKO NAGURSKI TROPHY PRESEASON WATCH LIST (SEC ONLY)
CB Johnthan Banks, Mississippi State
DE Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina
S Matt Elam, Florida
DT Sharrif Floyd, Florida
DL John Jenkins, Georgia
LB Nico Johnson, Alabama
LB Jarvis Jones, Georgia
DE Corey Lemonier, Auburn
S Robert Lester, Alabama
DT Rob Lohr, Vanderbilt
CB Tyrann Mathieu, LSU
CB Dee Milliner, Alabama
DE Barkevious Mingo, LSU
DE Sam Montgomery, LSU
LB C.J. Mosley, Alabama
LB Sean Porter, Texas A&M
S Eric Reid, LSU
DE Devin Taylor, South Carolina
DL Jesse Williams, Alabama
By conference: SEC (19), Big Ten (14), Big 12 (13), ACC (11), Pac-12 (10), Big East (4), Conference USA (3), Independents (3), MAC (3), Mountain West (2), Sun Belt (1), WAC (1).