May 12, 2008

Five Conference USA defensive standouts were named to the 2008 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List as selected by the Football Writers Association of America. The Nagurski Trophy, awarded to the best defensive player in college football, has been a part of the FWAA's awards since 1993. It is sponsored by the Charlotte Touchdown Club with the winner to be selected from the association's 11-man All-America defensive team in late November. Houston defensive end Phillip Hunt, Marshall defensive end Albert McClellan, Southern Miss linebacker Gerald McRath, UAB free safety Will Dunbar and UCF defensive back Joe Burnett are the C-USA players outlined among the 56-player list of premier Division I-A athletes on the preseason watch list.

Hunt was a one-man wrecking crew on the Cougar defense, as his 10.5 sacks were tops in Conference USA and his 18 tackles for loss ranked second. Hunt was a first-team All-Conference selection and finished with 49 total tackles and a nation's best 10 pass breakups for a defensive lineman. He was named the C-USA Defensive Player of the Week for his effort against SMU on Nov. 4. Hunt helped the Cougars to their third straight bowl appearance last season, as the 8-5 Cougars played in the second annual Texas Bowl.

McRath, the reigning Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year, led the Golden Eagles with 139 tackles last season to go along with 12 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, three passes broken up and one forced fumble. For his career, he has tallied 249 career stops, including 23 TFLs and 6.5 sacks. Last season, he tallied seven games in which he recorded 10 or more tackles including a career-best 21 at home against UCF. The Golden Eagles finished 7-6 for the team's 14th straight winning season and made their sixth straight bowl appearance.

Dunbar was a first-team All-Conference USA selection last season as he led all Conference USA defenders in tackles per game at 12.2. He ranked No. 4 nationally in that category. The Atlanta product also registered a pair of interceptions in 2007, including one for a 21-yard touchdown against Florida State.

McClellan is expected to be back this fall after missing the entire 2007 season with a knee injury. In 2006, he was the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year after leading the league in sacks (11) and tackles for loss (19). He also registered 77 total tackles in 2006.

Burnett is a three-year starter who will enter his senior season ranked second on UCF's all-time interception list with 12, including six last season. He registered 64 tackles (55 solo) and posted a team-high 12 pass breakups with one fumble recovery. A former Freshman All-American, he has earned All-Conference USA honors as a defensive back and as a punt returner.

The FWAA All-America Committee selects the Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner from the association's 11-man All-America defensive team in November. The list can be updated before and during the season.

The Football Writers Association of America consists of more than 900 men and women across North America who cover college football for a living. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all areas that involve the game.

The Nagurski Trophy will be presented at the Charlotte Touchdown Club on Sunday, December 7.

2008 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List

Geno Atkins, DT, Georgia
Antonio Baker, DB, Louisiana Tech
Darry Beckwith, MLB, LSU
Ted Bentler, DL, Army
Eric Berry, DB, Tennessee
Dirayl Briggs, DE, Bowling Green
Everette Brown, DL, Florida State
David Bruton, FS, Notre Dame
Joe Burnett, DB, UCF
Terrill Byrd, DT, Cincinnati
Ian Campbell, DE, Kansas State
Reggie Carter, LB, UCLA
Jamar Chaney, LB, Mississippi State
Patrick Chung, DB, Oregon
Barry Church, S, Toledo
Antonio Coleman, DE, Auburn
Emanuel Cook, SS, South Carolina
Maurice Crum, LB, Notre Dame
Jermaine Cunningham, DL, Florida
Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest
Brian Cushing, LB, USC
Dexter Davis, DE, Arizona State
Vontae Davis, DB, Illinois
Will Dunbar, FS, UAB
Solomin Elimimian, LB, Hawaii
Dannell Ellerbe, LB, Georgia
Kevin Ellison, DB, USC
Auston English, DE, Oklahoma
Larry English, DE, Northern Illinois
Maurice Evans, DE, Penn State
Zack, Follett, LB, California
Marcus Freeman, LB, Ohio State
Londen Fryar, DB, Western Michigan
John Gill, DT, Northwestern
DeMarcus Granger, DT, Oklahoma
Courtney Greene, S, Rutgers
Michael Hamlin, DB, Clemson
Greg Hardy, DE, Ole Miss
Nic Harris, DB, Oklahoma
Victor Harris, DB, Virginia Tech
Daniel Holtzclaw, LB, Eastern Michigan
Phillip Hunt, DE, Houston
George Hypolite, DT, Colorado
Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU
Malcom Jenkins, DB, Ohio State
Peria Jerry, DT, Ole Miss
Rashad Johnson, DB, Alabama
Arthur Jones, DT, Syracuse
Jan Jorgensen, DL, BYU
Frantz Joseph, LB, Florida Atlantic
Mitch King, DT, Iowa
James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State
Trevard Lindley, CB, Kentucky
Sen'Derrick Marks, DT, Auburn
Rey Maualuga, LB, USC
Taylor Mays, S, USC
Albert McClellan, DE, Marshall
Scott McKillop, LB, Pittsburgh
Gerald McRath, LB, Southern Miss
Mike Mickens, CB, Cincinnati
Greg Middleton, DE, Indiana
Fili Moala, DT, USC
William Moore, S, Missouri
DJ Moore, CB, Vanderbilt
Joe Mortensen, LB, Kansas
Clayton Mullins, LB, Miami (Ohio)
Captain Munnerlyn, DB, South Carolina
Andre Neblett, DT, Temple
Troy Nolan, DB, Arizona State
Eric Norwood, DE, South Carolina
Vince Oghobaase, DT, Duke
Jeff Owens, DT, Georgia
Derek Pegues, DT, Mississippi State
Dave Philistin, LB, Maryland
Nick Reed, DE, Oregon
Myron Rolle, DB, Florida State
George Selvie, DE, South Florida
Matt Shaughnessy, DE, Wisconsin
Clint Sintim, LB, Virginia
Alphonso Smith, DB, Wake Forest
D'Anthony Smith, DT, Louisiana Tech
Clinton Snyder, LB, Stanford
Brandon Spikes, LB, Florida
Terrance Taylor, DT, Michigan
Brian Toal, LB, Boston College
Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri
Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State
DeAndre Wright, DB, New Mexico