Davis and Nolan named to Bronco Nagurski Trophy

May 12, 2008

The Football Writers Association of America announced on May 12 that Arizona State junior defensive end <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/davis_dexter00.html">D… Davis</a> and senior safety <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/nolan_troy00.html">Troy Nolan</a> were both named to the watch list for the 2008 Bronco Nagurski Trophy, which is annually awarded to the best defensive player in college football.<separator></separator>One of ASU's most consistent defenders over the last two seasons, Davis has started all 26 games of his Sun Devil career. Last season Davis earned Second-Team All-Pac-10 honors after finishing tied for third in the conference with 10.5 sacks to go along with 33 combined tackles, three forced fumbles and one pass breakup. In his two seasons at ASU, Davis has accumulated 75 combined tackles, including 24 tackles for loss, 16.5 sacks and six forced fumbles.<separator></separator>A former junior college transfer who sat out his first year in Tempe because of injury, Nolan earned Second-Team All-Pac-10 honors in 2007, finishing first on the team and second in the conference with six interceptions, the most by a Sun Devil since 1989. He tied a school record by bringing two of those six interceptions back for touchdowns. Last month Nolan, who finished third on ASU in 2007 in tackles (64) and second in passes broken up (7), was one of 42 players named to the watch list for the Lott Trophy, which is given to the college football defensive IMPACT player of the year.<separator></separator>The FWAA All-America Committee selects the Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner from the association's 11-man All-America defensive team in November. The watch list was developed by the FWAA All-America committee with the help of the schools and conferences.<separator></separator>The Charlotte Touchdown Club will hold the 2008 banquet on Sunday, Dec. 7, at the Westin Hotel in Charlotte. For the eighth straight season, the FWAA will also pick a Bronko Nagurski Defensive Player of the Week beginning with games on Aug. 30 and running through the middle of November. And a Bronko Nagurski Legends Award winner will also be selected from the FWAA's 1967 All-America team.<separator></separator> The Bronko Nagurski Trophy has been presented since 1993 and is awarded in memory of the legendary Nagurski, a former All-America lineman at Minnesota in 1927-29 and a star for professional football's Chicago Bears in the 1930s.