Bronko Nagurski Trophy
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Bronko Nagurski Trophy Winners

Year Winner School Position Height Weight Home Town
2025 Jacob Rodriguez Texas Tech , Sr. LB 6-1 235 Wichita Falls, Texas
Finalists:
Caleb Downs, Ohio State, S
Cashius Howell, Texas A&M, DE
Leonard Moore, Notre Dame, CB
2024 Kyle Kennard South Carolina , 5th Edge 6-5 238 Atlanta, Ga.
Finalists:
Jahdae Barron, Texas, CB
Adbul Carter, Penn State, DE
Mason Graham, Michigan, DT
2023 Xavier Watts Notre Dame , Gr. S 6-2 202 Omaha, Neb.
Finalists:
Cooper Dejean, Iowa, DB
Jer'Zhan Newton, Illinois, DT
Malaki Starks, Georgia, S
Payton Wilson, NC State, LB
2022 Will Anderson Jr. Alabama , Jr. LB 6-4 243 Hampton, Ga.
Finalists:
Calijah Kancey, Pitt, Jr., DT, Miami, Fla.
Chris Smith, Georgia, Sr., FS, Atlanta, Ga.
Tuli Tuipulotu, USC, Jr., DE, Hawthorne, Calif.
2021 Will Anderson Jr. Alabama , So. LB 6-4 243 Hampton, Ga.
Finalists:
Jordan Davis, Georgia, Sr., DT, 6-6, 340, Charlotte, N.C.
Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon, So., DE, 6-5, 258, Los Angeles, Calif.
2020 Zaven Collins Tulsa , Jr. LB 6-4 260 Hominy, Okla.
Finalists:
Tarron Jackson, Coastal Carolina, Sr., DE, Aiken, S.C.
Daviyon Nixon, Iowa, Jr., DT, Kenosha, Wis.
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame, Sr., LB, Hampton, Va.
Patrick Surtain II, Alabama, Jr., CB, Plantation, Fla.
2019 Chase Young Ohio State , Jr. DE 6-5 265 Upper Marlboro, Md.
Finalists:
Derrick Brown, Auburn, DT
J.R. Reed, Georgia, S
Isaiah Simmons, Clemson, LB
Antoine Winfield Jr., Minnesota, DB
2018 Josh Allen Kentucky , Sr. LB 6-5 260 Montclair, N.J.
Finalists:
Devin Bush, Michigan, LB
Grant Delpit, LSU, S
Christian Wilkins, Clemson, DT
Quinnen Williams, Alabama, NG
2017 Bradley Chubb NC State , Sr. DE 6-4 275 Marietta, Ga.
Finalists:
Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama, Jr., S, 6-1, 202, Old Bridge, N.J.
Josey Jewell, Iowa, Sr., LB, 6-2, 236, Decorah, Iowa
Ed Oliver, Houston, So., DT, 6-3, 290, Houston, Texas
Roquan Smith, Georgia, Jr., LB, 6-1, 225, Montezuma, Ga.
2016 Jonathan Allen Alabama , Sr. DE 6-3 291 Leesburg, Va.
Finalists:
Reuben Foster, Alabama, LB
Tarvarus McFadden, Florida State, CB
Jabrill Peppers, Michigan, LB/DB
Christian Wilkins, Clemson, DE
2015 Tyler Matakevich Temple , Sr. LB 6-1 232 Stratford, Conn.
Finalists:
Jeremy Cash, Duke, S
Shaq Lawson, Clemson, DE
Carl Nassib, Penn State, DE
Reggie Ragland, Alabama, LB
2014 Scooby Wright. Arizona , So. LB 6-1 246 Windsor, Calif.
Finalists:
Malcom Brown, Texas, DT
Landon Collins, Alabama, S
Senquez Golson, Ole Miss, CB
Gerod Holliman, Louisville, S
2013 Aaron Donald Pitt , Sr. DT 6-0 285 Pittsburgh, Pa.
Finalists:
Darqueze Dennard, Michigan State, CB
Lamarcus Joyner, Florida State, CB
C.J. Mosley, Alabama, LB
Michael Sam, Missouri, DE
2012 Manti Te'o Notre Dame , Sr. LB 6-2 255 Laie, Hawaii
Finalists:
Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina, So., DE, 6-6, 256, Rock Hill, S.C.
Jarvis Jones, Georgia, Jr., LB, 6-3, 241, Columbus, Ga.
Dee Milliner, Alabama, Jr., CB, 6-1, 199, Millbrook, Ala.
Bjoern Werner, Florida State, Jr., DE, 6-4, 255, Berlin, Germany
2011 Luke Kuechly Boston College , Jr. LB 6-3 235 Cincinnati, Ohio
Finalists:
Mark Barron, Alabama, S
Morris Claiborne, LSU, CB
Whitney Mercilus, Illinois, DE
Devon Still, Penn State, DT
2010 Da'Quan Bowers Clemson , Jr. DE 6-4 275 Bamberg, S.C
Finalists:
Nick Fairley, Auburn, DT
Justin Houston, Georgia, LB
Luke Kuechly, Boston College, LB
Patrick Peterson, LSU, CB
2009 Ndamukong Suh Nebraska , Sr. DT 6-4 300 Portland, Ore.
Finalists:
Pat Angerer, Iowa, LB
Eric Berry, Tennessee, SS
Terrence Cody, Alabama, DT
Jerry Hughes, TCU, DE
2008 Brian Orakpo Texas , Sr. DE 6-4 260 Houston, Texas
Finalists:
Jerry Hughes, TCU, Jr., DE, 6-2, 248, Sugar Land, Texas
Rey Maualuga, USC, Sr., LB, 6-2, 260, Eureka, Calif.
Alphonso Smith, Wake Forest, Sr., CB, 5-9, 190, Pahokee, Fla.
Brandon Spikes, Florida, Jr., LB, 6-3, 245, Shelby, N.C.
2007 Glenn Dorsey LSU , Sr. DT 6-3 303 Gonzales, La.
Finalists:
James Laurinaitis, Ohio State, LB
Chris Long, Virginia, DE
George Selvie, South Florida, DE
Aqib Talib, Kansas, CB
2006 James Laurinaitis Ohio State , So. LB 6-3 244 Hamel, Minn.
Finalists:
Gaines Adams, Clemson, DL
Leon Hall, Michigan, DB
Reggie Nelson, Florida, DB
Patrick Willis, Ole Miss, LB
2005 Elvis Dumervil Louisville , Sr. DE 6-0 256 Miami, Fla.
Finalists:
Tamba Hali, Penn State, DE
Haloti Ngata, Oregon, DT
DeMeco Ryans, Alabama, LB
Jimmy Williams, Virginia Tech, CB
2004 Derrick Johnson Texas , Sr. LB 6-4 230 Waco, Texas
Finalists:
Jonathan Goddard, Marshall, DL
Erasmus James, Wisconsin, DL
David Pollack, Georgia, DE
Carlos Rogers, Auburn, CB
2003 Derrick Strait Oklahoma , Sr. CB 5-11 195 Austin, Texas
Finalists:
Dave Ball, UCLA, DE
Tommie Harris, Oklahoma, DT
Chad Lavalais, LSU, DT
Grant Wiley, West Virginia, LB
2002 Terrell Suggs Arizona State , Jr. DE 6-3 252 Chandler, Ariz.
Finalists:
E.J. Henderson, Maryland, LB
Terence Newman, Kansas State, CB
David Pollack, Georgia, DE
Shane Walton, Notre Dame, CB
2001 Roy Williams Oklahoma , Jr. DB 6-0 215 Union City, Calif.
Finalists:
Alex Brown, Florida, DE
Rocky Calmus, Oklahoma, LB
Dwight Freeney, Syracuse, DE
Julius Peppers, North Carolina, DE
2000 Dan Morgan Miami , Sr. LB 6-3 243 Coral Springs, Fla.
Finalists:
Andre Carter, California, DE
Levar Fisher, NC State, LB
John Henderson, Tennessee, DT
Justin Smith, Missouri, DE
1999 Corey Moore Virginia Tech , Sr. DE 6-0 225 Brownsville, Tenn.
Finalists:
LaVar Arrington, Penn State, LB
Courtney Brown, Penn State, DE
Tyrone Carter, Minnesota, DB
Corey Simon, Florida State, DT
1998 Champ Bailey Georgia , Jr. DB 6-1 186 Folkston, Ga.
Finalists:
Patrick Kearney, Virginia, DE
Jeff Kelly, Kansas State, LB
Anthony Poindexter, Virginia, DB
Al Wilson, Tennessee, LB
1997 Charles Woodson Michigan , Jr. CB 6-1 197 Fremont, Ohio
Finalists:
Sam Cowart, Florida State, LB
Andy Katzenmoyer, Ohio State, LB
Jason Peter, Nebraska, DT
Grant Wistrom, Nebraska, DE
1996 Pat Fitzgerald Northwestern , Sr. LB 6-2 233 Orland Park, Ill.
Finalists:
Chris Canty, Kansas State, CB
Canute Curtis, West Virginia, LB
Derrick Rodgers, Arizona State, DE
Grant Wistrom, Nebraska, DE
1995 Pat Fitzgerald Northwestern , Jr. LB 6-2 228 Orland Park, Ill.
Finalists:
Cornell Brown, Virginia Tech, DE
Kevin Brown, Illinois, LB
Chris Canty, Kansas State, CB
Zach Thomas, Texas Tech, LB
1994 Warren Sapp Miami , Jr. DT 6-3 284 Plymouth, Fla.
Finalists:
Dana Howard, Illinois, LB
Ed Stewart, Nebraska, LB
1993 Rob Waldrop Arizona , Sr. DL 6-2 274 Phoenix, Ariz.
Finalists:
Derrick Brooks, Florida State, LB
Antonio Langham, Alabama, CB

Award Info

2025 Key Dates
Watch List: Tue., Jul 29
Finalists: Thu., Nov 20
Winner: Mon., Dec 8

Presentation Banquet: Mon., Dec 8
Charlotte Convention Center
Charlotte, N.C.
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