The Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) has released the preseason watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy. The award is given annually to the nation’s best defensive player. The ACC has seven players on the Nagurski preseason watch list this year.

There are 75 players on the waiting list for the season, coming from 56 different schools.

The ACC candidates

The players on the ACC watch list are:

Peter Woods, Clemson, sophomore; defensive end

Joshua Farmer, Florida State, Redshirt Junior; defensive tackle

Ashton Gillotte, Louisville, Senior; defensive end

Francisco Mauigoa, Miami, senior; linebacker

Kaimon Rucker, North Carolina, Graduate Student; Defensive End

Jonas Sanker, Virginia, senior; safety

Aeneas Peebles, Virginia Tech, graduate student, DT

Farmer was also on the watch list Tuesday for the Outland Trophy, which is awarded to the nation’s best interior lineman.

Last year’s winner, Notre Dame’s Xavier Watts, is back on the watch list. And Georgia defensive back Malaki Starks, a finalist for last year’s award, is also back on the watch list.

The other conferences

Ohio State leads all programs with four players on the watch list. The Big 10 overall has 16 on the list from nine different conference schools.

Georgia leads the SEC with three players on the list. The Big 12 has a dozen players on the list. The AAC, Mountain West, Sun Belt, Conference USA and MAC are also represented. The full watchlist can be seen here.

The specifics

The FWAA All-America Committee, through a vote of the full membership of the association, selects a 26-member All-America Team and ultimately the Nagurski Trophy finalists. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner is chosen from the five finalists named in November. The FWAA award dates back to 1993. It was renamed in Nagurski’s honor in 1995.

The award is presented by the members of the Football Writers Association of America and the All-American Committee.

The FWAA will announce the finalists for the 2024 trophy on November 20. The winner will be announced on December 9 at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet in Charlotte, NC, sponsored by the Charlotte Touchdown Club.

Players can be added to the list throughout the year if their play on the field warrants it. The full list for 2024 can be found here.

The schedule for other awards watchlists coming out this week can be viewed here.