GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Senior linebacker Jarrad Davis, redshirt senior defensive back Marcus Maye and junior defensive back Jalen Tabor have been named to the 2016 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List, the Football Writers Association of America announced Friday.
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy has been awarded annually since 1993 to the collegiate American football player adjudged by the membership of the FWAA to be the best defensively in the NCAA. Earlier this week, this same trio was named to the 2016 Chuck Bednarik Award preseason watch list.
In 2015, Davis was named to Gridiron’s Now All-SEC second team. He appeared in 14 games and starting 12, totaling the second-most tackles on the team with 98. Davis’ 11 tackles for loss also ranked third for Florida.
Maye garnered first-team All-America honors from USA Today and Pro Football Focus and honorable mention All-American honors from Sports Illustrated. In his 13 game appearances and 12 starts, Maye forced five fumbles, good for second-most in the country, and recovered two. His 82 tackles ranked fourth-most of the Gators.
Tabor was tabbed second-team All-American by Sporting News and first-team All-SEC by the league’s coaches, the Associated Press, ESPN.com, Athlon, Pro Football Focus and Gridiron Now. He became the first Gator since Brandon Spikes in 2009 to return two interceptions for touchdowns in a single season, and his four total interceptions tied for second of all SEC players. Tabor appeared in 13 games, nine of which were starts.
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 has been awarded annually since 1993 to the collegiate American football player adjudged by the membership of the FWAA to be the best defensively in the NCAA. Earlier this week, this same trio was named to the 2016 Chuck Bednarik Award preseason watch list.
In 2015, Davis was named to Gridiron’s Now All-SEC second team. He appeared in 14 games and starting 12, totaling the second-most tackles on the team with 98. Davis’ 11 tackles for loss also ranked third for Florida.
Maye garnered first-team All-America honors from USA Today and Pro Football Focus and honorable mention All-American honors from Sports Illustrated. In his 13 game appearances and 12 starts, Maye forced five fumbles, good for second-most in the country, and recovered two. His 82 tackles ranked fourth-most of the Gators.
Tabor was tabbed second-team All-American by Sporting News and first-team All-SEC by the league’s coaches, the Associated Press, ESPN.com, Athlon, Pro Football Focus and Gridiron Now. He became the first Gator since Brandon Spikes in 2009 to return two interceptions for touchdowns in a single season, and his four total interceptions tied for second of all SEC players. Tabor appeared in 13 games, nine of which were starts.
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.
