FWAA Bronko Nagurski Trophy News

DALLAS (FWAA) – Alabama cornerback Zabien Brown produced one of the highlight plays of this past weekend’s games, intercepting a Tennessee pass intended for the Crimson Tide end zone and taking it back 99 yards for a touchdown, a back-breaking pick-six in the final moments of the first half in its 37-20 win over the Vols. That play, plus his pass coverage that allowed only 16 yards, earned Brown the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week for the weekend of Oct. 18 by the Football Writers Association of America.

Bishop Fitzgerald had two interceptions and a timely sack in USC’s 31-13 win over Michigan on Saturday and has emerged one of the top defensive backs in the country. For his performance against Michigan that now places him as the country’s interception leader and leadership that has helped push the Trojans into the upper tier of the Big Ten Conference, Fitzgerald has been selected as the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week for the weekend of Oct. 11 by the Football Writers Association of America.

Miami safety Jakobe Thomas stole an interception, forced a fumble and had a sack Saturday as the Hurricanes went into Tallahassee, Fla., and recorded a 28-22 win over No. 18 Florida State. The takeaways and leadership behind a resurgent Miami defense has Thomas selected as the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Players of the Week for the weekend of Oct. 4 by the Football Writers Association of America.

Ohio State’s inside-outside defensive force of Kayden McDonald at tackle and Caden Curry on the end helped the top-ranked Buckeyes limit Washington to just 61 yards on the ground and take a 24-6 road win in Seattle. Curry’s five tackles for loss tied the school record to go with a career-high 11 tackles, and McDonald’s career-high seven tackles included three for losses that earned the duo a share of the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Players of the Week for the weekend of Sept. 27, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez had a hand in two turnovers Saturday to go with a team-leading 11 tackles as the Red Raiders more than contained then-No. 16 Utah in a statement 34-10 road win. For his game-changing plays and defensive leadership in Texas Tech’s Big 12 Conference opener, Rodriguez has earned the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week for the weekend of Sept. 20 by the Football Writers Association of America.

Snagging a pair of interceptions that included a pick-six as well as guiding the LSU defense to shut down Florida in the second half of their featured game has earned Tigers safety Dashawn Spears the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week by the Football Writers Association of America.

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.

The Football Writers Association of America released its 2025 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List today, selecting three returning FWAA All-Americans among 60 defensive standouts as contenders for the national defensive player of the year. The list contains players from 41 different schools in eight Division I FBS conferences plus Independents.

The Charlotte Touchdown Club in conjunction with the Football Writers Association of America, officially announced today Brian Bosworth, college football defensive legend from the University of Oklahoma, as Keynote Speaker for the 2025 Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet scheduled for Monday, December 8th.