Notre Dame Football: Coney, Love And Tillery Make Nagurski Watch List
By J.P. Scott
Three Notre Dame football players landed on the 2018 preseason watch list for the Nagurski Award.
The Football Writers Association of America released its 2018 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List today, selecting 97 defensive standouts from 61 schools in all 10 Division I FBS conferences. Three Notre Dame football players made the list: Jerry Tillery, Te’von Coney and Julian Love.
The Nagurski Award is given to the national defensive player of the year as voted by the Football Writers Association of America. It is presented by the Charlotte Touchdown club.
Defensive tackle Jerry Tillery made the list on the back of a season that saw him record 4.5 sacks and lead an elite front four during the 2017 season.
Linebacker Te’von Coney makes the list after a season where he recorded 116 tackles. He should be among the nation’s leaders in that category again in 2018.
Cornerback Julian Love was named an All-American by some publications after a 2017 season where he had three interceptions and defended 20 passes. He was named to the Thorpe Award list yesterday.
Having three players on the watch list is a big deal. Having one player at each level of the Notre Dame defense on the list tells you what sort of talent the Irish are taking the field with this season. There aren’t many teams in college football, year in, year out, who have a defensive player of the year candidate on the defensive line, linebacking corps and secondary.
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The winner will be announced at the annual Bronko Nagurski Trophy Banquet, presented by ACN, which will be held on Dec. 3 at the Charlotte Convention Center.