Two Buckeyes named to Nagurski Trophy preseason watch list
COLUMBUS — Ohio State and the defense have been the story all offseason long, but before some critical questions start to get their answers, there are players who are recognized by the members behind the Nagurski Trophy.
Defensive end Zach Harrison and safety Ronnie Hickman earned nods to the Nagurski Trophy, given to the country’s best defensive player, preseason watch list on Tuesday, and with fall camp just around the corner.
Zach Harrison, a 6-foot-6, 272-pound defensive end, is one of the more experienced members on the edges for the Buckeyes this coming fall. Harrison in three seasons has 72 total tackles and 9.5 sacks. He was a captain for Ohio State last fall and started 11 of 13 games with strong performances against Minnesota, Purdue and Utah. Harrison earned Second-Team All-Big Ten honors last season.
Ronnie Hickman continues to have his name on preseason award watch lists and it isn’t by surprise. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound safety was a force last season in the back end for the Buckeyes and led the team in tackles. Hickman will be one of the names to watch in new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles system this fall.
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Other Buckeyes on preseason watch lists, All-American teams
Quarterback C.J. Stroud, Smith-Njigba and running back TreVeyon Henderson were all named to the preseason watch list for the Maxwell Award, which is given annually to the top player in all of college football, on Monday. Stroud, the Buckeyes second-year starting quarterback, was among 35 quarterbacks named to the Davey O’Brien Award watch list, and he is among the preseason favorites to win the award. That watch list came out Tuesday.
TreVeyon Henderson and Smith-Njigba were both named preseason first-team All-Americans by the Walter Camp Football Foundation. Another pair of Buckeyes, tackle Dawand Jones and kicker Noah Ruggles, were second-team selections. That list came out at the beginning of July. Stroud was not on that list. He was beat out by Alabama’s Bryce Young and USC’s Caleb Williams for the two quarterback spots.
Henderson was also named to the preseason watch list for the Doak Walker Award, given annually to the country’s top running back, on Wednesday. And Smith-Njigba was listed as a preseason player to watch for the Biletnikoff Award, which is given to the top receiver each year.
Ohio State center Luke Wypler was named to the Rimington Trophy watch list last week.
The Buckeyes had offensive tackles Paris Johnson and Dawand Jones named to the Outland Trophy watch list on Tuesday.
