No. 30 Collin Matteson celebrates with teammates after victory at Kansas State
DALLAS (FWAA) – Army West Point linebacker Collin Matteson intercepted a pass on Kansas State’s final drive, finishing off a stellar performance amidst the Black Knights’ defense in a 24-21 road win at Kansas State. For leading the Army stop crew, Matteson has been named the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week by the Football Writers Association of America.
Each week during the regular season, the FWAA has selected a Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week since 2001. The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce finalists for the 2025 Bronko Nagurski Trophy on Nov. 20. The national defensive player of the year will be chosen from those finalists who are part of the 2025 FWAA All-America Team and presented with the trophy at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet on Dec. 8 at the Charlotte Convention Center.
Players may be added or removed from the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list during the season. If a player isn’t already on the preseason watch list – including Matteson this week – each week’s honored player is added at that time.
Matteson, a 6-0, 195-pound senior safety from Edmond, Okla., led Army’s defense that held Kansas State to 246 yards of offense and 13 first downs. He finished with five tackles and three pass breakups along with the decisive interception that clinched the win with 1:35 left. He had knocked away a deep pass in the Army end zone moments earlier just before the 2:00 timeout. He was also named the American Conference Defensive Player of the Week award.
The senior was instrumental in coverage, limiting Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson to a 5.2 passer rating when targeted, according to Pro Football Focus. Matteson earned an 84.0 overall grade from PFF, including an 88.9 coverage grade, ranking among the top defensive backs nationally in Week 2.
In the second half, Army held Kansas State to 48 total yards and only five rushing yards, helped in large part by its offense eating up large chunks of clock (26:59 to 3:01 for KSU). When it didn’t have the ball, the defense contained the Wildcats to only 13 plays in the second half (to Army’s 46) and allowed Army to rally from a 21-14 deficit. Kansas State’s lone second-half touchdown came on a kickoff return.
The win marked the Black Knights' first win over a Big 12 opponent since 2006 and its first power-conference win in a true road game since 2016.
Last Saturday was Matteson’s second start coming off a game in which he tied for second on Army’s defense with eight tackles (four solo) in the Black Knights’ season-opening loss to Tarleton State. He also had a tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry. He appeared in all 14 games for Army last season, logging 15 tackles and an interception.
The Black Knights are idle this week. They host North Texas in their American opener Sept. 20 at noon in a game to be broadcast by CBS Sports Network.
The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the association’s full membership, selects a 26-man All-America Team and eventually the Bronko Nagurski Trophy finalists. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner will be chosen from the finalists named in November. Committee members, by individual ballot, select the winner they regard as the best defensive player in college football.
The FWAA has chosen a National Defensive Player of the Year since 1993. In 1995, the FWAA named the award in honor of the legendary two-way player from the University of Minnesota. Nagurski dominated college football, then became a star for professional football’s Chicago Bears in the 1930s. Bronislaw "Bronko" Nagurski is a charter member of both the College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame.
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football’s most prestigious awards. The NCFAA’s 25 awards have honored more than 950 recipients since 1935. This season, 13 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday. For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit NCFAA.org or follow on X at @NCFAA.
The Charlotte Touchdown Club is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in 1990 for the purpose of promoting high school, collegiate, and professional football in the Charlotte, North Carolina region. Since its inception, the club has grown as well as diversified boasting a sponsor team of more than (80) companies. The Club's activities and services focus community attention on the outstanding Citizenship, Scholarship, Sportsmanship, and Leadership of area athletes and coaches. Through individual and corporate support, more than $3,000,000 has been raised and donated to benefit the Touchdown Club's scholarship efforts.
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Founded in 1941, the Football Writers Association of America consists of 1,300 men and women who cover college football. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include game-day operations, major awards and its annual All-America team. For more information about the FWAA and its award programs, contact Steve Richardson at tiger@fwaa.com.