DALLAS (FWAA) – The Football Writers Association of America released its 2023 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List today, selecting 93 defensive standouts from 69 schools in all 10 Division I FBS conferences plus Independents. The watch list roster includes three returning players from last season’s FWAA All-America team, the top four tacklers from last season, the sack and interception leaders from 2022 and five secondary players who had at least six interceptions last year.
Buffalo linebacker Shaun Dolac, Buffalo safety Marcus Fuqua, Toledo safety Maxen Hook, Central Michigan cornerback Donte Kent, Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell and NIU defensive tackle Devonte O'Malley represent the conference on this season's watch list.
Last season, Dolac led the Mid-American Conference and ranked second in the nation in tackles with 147. He had a school-record 97 solo tackles which was tops in the nation. He also led the Bulls in tackles for loss (13.5) and sacks (4.5).
Fuqua was an Associated Press third-team All-American in 2022 after leading the nation in interceptions with seven. He ranked fourth on the team in tackles with 65 and added 2.5 tackles for loss, five pass breakups and two fumble recoveries.
Kent is a consensus preseason All-MAC selection heading into the 2023 season. A First Team All-MAC cornerback in 2022, Kent was named a FWAA Freshman All-America team pick in 2021. Over his two-year, 30-game career, he has made 124 tackles (99 solo), 1.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, two interceptions, 30 pass breakups, 32 passes defended, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and a blocked kick.
O'Malley was a nominee for the Burlsworth Trophy last season, presented to the nation's top former or current walk-on. He had a career-high 36 tackles and tied for the team lead in quarterback sacks with 5.5. O'Malley started all 12 games in 2022 and earned first team All-MAC honors from Phil Steele and All-MAC second team accolades from the league's head coaches. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is presented to the nation's most outstanding defensive player by the Charlotte Touchdown Club.
Hook, a junior safety, earned first-team All-MAC honors in 2022 and third-team all-conference recognition in 2021. He was third on the team with 81 tackles last year to go with two interceptions and four pass breakups. He was second on the team and 12th in the MAC with 95 tackles in 2021.
Mitchell led the nation with 25 passes defended (five interceptions, 20 breakups) in 2022, and was named second-team All-America by Walter Camp, Phil Steele and Pro Football Focus, and third-team All-America by the Associated Press. A first-team All-MAC selection in 2022, gained national prominence after he collected four interceptions and two pick sixes in a 52-32 victory over Northern Illinois on Oct. 8. He was named to the 2023 Walter Camp Preseason All-America Team, the only player from the Mid-American Conference and one of only three Group of Five conference players on the team.
Players may be added or removed from the watch list during the course of the season. As in previous years, the FWAA will announce a National Defensive Player of the Week each Tuesday this season. If not already on the watch list, each week’s honored player will be added at that time.
The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce finalists for the 2023 trophy on Nov. 15 and the winner will be unveiled Dec. 4 at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet in Charlotte, N.C.
