CHARLOTTE, N.C. (FWAA) – Four finalists for the 2025 Bronko Nagurski Trophy represent four separate conferences and come from within the top nine teams in the current College Football Playoff rankings. A top sack man from the defensive edge, a takeaway master at linebacker and two top coverage players from the secondary make up the list released Thursday as candidates for the award honoring the nation’s top defensive player by the Football Writers Association of America and the Charlotte Touchdown Club.
Two of the schools represented have had Bronko Nagurski Trophy winners in their past. Two have not. In alphabetical order, the finalists are safety Caleb Downs of Ohio State, defensive end Cashius Howell of Texas A&M, cornerback Leonard Moore of Notre Dame and linebacker Jacob Rodriguez of Texas Tech.
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy recipient will be chosen from these four finalists. The FWAA All-America Committee selects the defensive player of the year who is part of the 2025 FWAA All-America Team and presented the trophy at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet on Dec. 8 in Charlotte, N.C.
Here is more information on the 2025 finalists, listed in alphabetical order:
Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State (#2, 6-0, 205, Jr., Hoschton, Ga.): A returning FWAA All-American at safety from a year ago, Downs needs little introduction here but continues to rack up additional postseason attention. A mainstay in the Buckeyes’ secondary and always accounted for by opposing offenses, Downs is third on the Ohio State defense with 46 tackles on the season with 29 of them solo stops. He has 4.0 tackles for loss that are fifth on the team, two interceptions that are tied for the team lead, and a pass break-up. Downs has 128 tackles in 26 career games at OSU and is contending again for the Big Ten’s Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year Award, which he won last season.
Ohio State has two Bronko Nagurski Trophy winners in its past, defensive end Chase Young in 2019 and linebacker James Laurinaitis in 2006. Laurinaitis was also a finalist in 2007, and linebacker Andy Katzenmoyer was a finalist in 1997. Downs is coached by Matt Guerrieri as safeties coach, Tim Walton as secondary coach and Matt Patricia as defensive coordinator.
Cashius Howell, DE, Texas A&M (#9, 6-2, 248, R-Sr., Kansas City, Mo.): Howell’s presence on the edge of the defensive line is a nightmare for opposing coaching staffs. He’s a game-changer as the national sack leader at 1.15 per game, second nationally in total sacks at 11.5, and averages 11.5 knock-downs per game. He’s 13th in the FBS in tackles for loss at 1.25 per game. Even when he doesn’t get to the quarterback, he’s a nemesis with 38 quarterback pressures this season. He batted down three South Carolina passes in last week’s comeback win. The 11.5 sacks are the most for the Aggies since Myles Garrett had the same count in 2014. He’s been the SEC’s Defensive Lineman of the Week four times this season.
Texas A&M has not had a Bronko Nagurski Trophy finalist before. Howell is coached by Tony Jerod-Eddie as defensive line coach and Jay Bateman as defensive coordinator.
Leonard Moore, CB, Notre Dame (#15, 6-2, 195, So., Round Rock, Texas): Another well-recognized player within FWAA circles as last season’s FWAA Freshman Defensive Player of the Year, Moore is also well-known as a ball hawk. Opponents don’t throw his direction too often. Because of his lockdown abilities, Moore has only been targeted by opposing quarterbacks on 10.6 percent of passing plays in which he was on the field. For every reception he has allowed this season, he has posted 14.4 coverage snaps. Moore’s highlight game so far this season came Oct. 4 in a 28-7 win over Boise State, where he snagged two interceptions, forced a fumble and had six tackles. Moore is the only cornerback in the nation to rank in the Top 10 in both interception rate allowed and first-down rate allowed. In two seasons at Notre Dame, Moore has 73 tackles in 24 career games, is second on the defense with five interceptions, and tied for second on the team with three forced fumbles.
Notre Dame has two previous Bronko Nagurski Trophy winners, most recently safety Xavier Watts in 2023. Linebacker Manti Te'o won it in 2012 and the Fighting Irish have had two previous finalists. Moore is coached by Mike Mickens as defensive backs coach, Marty Biagi as assistant defensive backs coach and Chris Ash as defensive coordinator.
Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech (#10, 6-1, 235, Sr., Wichita Falls Texas): Rodriguez quickly vaulted to national recognition by becoming a tackle and takeaway machine as Texas Tech has leaned on its defense to ascend into College Football Playoff and Big 12 title contention. His interception last week against UCF gave him nine takeaways during Big 12 play and 19 for his career. Rodriguez joins former Buffalo standout Khalil Mack (in 2013) as the only FBS players since 2005 to record at least five forced fumbles, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries in the same season. His 100 tackles on the season tie for 12th nationally. He was the Bronko Nagurski Trophy National Player of the Week twice this season. Among a handful of prominent defenders in Lubbock, Rodriguez is the standout leader of a group that is giving up only 12.3 points per game, third in the FBS.
It’s been 30 years since Texas Tech had a Bronko Nagurski Trophy finalist, linebacker Zach Thomas in 1995. Rodriguez is coached by Shiel Wood as defensive coordinator and Taylor Young as assistant inside linebackers coach.
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. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football’s most prestigious awards and its 24 awards have honored more than 900 recipients dating back to 1935. This season, 12 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday.
For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit the redesigned NCFAA.org or follow on Twitter 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, nearly $3,000,000 has been raised and donated to benefit the Touchdown Club's scholarship efforts.
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.