Pair of Oregon Ducks named to Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list
On Monday, the Football Writers Association of America released the 2023 Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list. Two Oregon Ducks have made the cut.
Ducks’ senior defensive end Brandon Dorlus and senior defensive back Evan Williams were among the 94 players selected by the FWAA. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which is voted upon by the FWAA All-America Committee, is awarded annually to the best player in college football.
Dorlus, who was a second-team all-Pac-12 selection last season and a first-team selection in 2021, is one of the top returning defensive linemen in the Pac-12. In 13 games last season, he led the Ducks with a career-high 9.5 tackles for loss and also tallied a career-high 2.5 sacks.
His 40 quarterback hurries were the seventh-most in the nation among FBS defenders, according to Pro Football Focus.
While spekaing with reporters in April Oregon head coach Dan Lanning was asked what he hopes to see Dorlus improve upon in 2023.
“Playing with better pad level, using his hands consistently better understanding,” Lanning said. “I think he did a good job of assessing, ‘Okay, here’s what my film said last year and here’s the things that I can tweak to get there.’ So, some technical things that he’s been able to improve and then just his overall compete. There’s an expectation, you know, for him and really all those guys that can play along the front for us to play to certain level.”
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Williams, a former Fresno State standout, transferred to Oregon during the offseason and is projected to start at boundary safety for the Ducks. He earned second-team all-Mountain West honors in 2022 and was a preseason first-team all-Pac-12 selection.
During his final season with the Bulldogs, Williams racked up 66 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss, four pass breakups, and one sack.
Former Alabama star Will Anderson was awarded the Bronko Nagurski Trophy in 2022 and 2021. An Oregon player has never won the award.
Former Oregon cornerback DJ James, who now plays at Auburn, also landed on the watch list.
The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce finalists for the 2023 trophy on Nov. 15 and the winner will be unveiled Dec. 4 at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet in Charlotte, N.C.
