Which Penn State players made the Nagurski and Outland trophies watch lists?
A Penn State defender is in the early running for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy. It goes annually to college football’s best defensive player. And so, it should be no surprise that a member of one of the sport’s top units from 2023 made the cut, especially considering most media prognosticators expect first-year coordinator Tom Allen’s bunch to be as good as or better than they were a year ago.
Edge rusher Abdul Carter is the only Nittany Lion to land on the Nagurski Trophy watch list. Returning safety KJ Winston Jr., was a surprising omission. But, he could and should be added to the list of potential winners when it is updated midway through the fall. As for Carter, his offseason of hype continues ahead of a position switch. Penn State will utilize him at both defensive end and linebacker this fall as he enters his third season in State College fresh off All-Big Ten honors from a year ago. He also made this year’s Big Ten preseason honors list.
“This wasn’t really something from us,” Penn State coach James Franklin said in March. “This was Abdul really wanted to make this move I think for a number of reasons. And, we’re excited about it.
“Obviously we’ve lost some defensive ends this past year that were highly productive. We feel really good about the current room. But, obviously being able to inject Abdul into that room as well is going to be a positive for us as well.”
A Penn State player has never won the Nagurski Trophy. It has been given out annually since 1993.
Lion lands on Outland Trophy watch list
Similar to the Nagurski Trophy, Penn State has one of the 75 preseason candidates for the Outland Trophy, as well. It goes to the nation’s best interior lineman on either side of the ball. And, veteran guard Saleem Wormley made the cut. He is also a fourth-team preseason All-American by Phil Steele. A Delaware native, Wormley is the veteran presence along an offensive line that must replace three starters from 2023 in 2024.
Penn State award watch list roundup
Tuesday marked day two of award watch list season. The Maxwell Award and Mannelly Trophy kicked things off on Monday. Third-year Nittany Lions Drew Allar and Nicholas Singleton are early candidates for the former honor. And, second-year starting long snapper Tyler Duzansky is up for the latter, which goes to college football’s best player at that position. Former Nittany Lion Chris Stoll won it in 2022.
Other award watch lists being announced this week include the Jim Thorpe Award, which goes to the best defensive back (Wednesday), the Paul Hornung Award, which goes to the game’s most versatile player (Thursday), and the Lou Groza and Ray Guy awards, which go to the nation’s best kicker and punter, respectively (Friday).
Penn State watch list honors as of July 30
Maxwell Award (top player on offense): QB Drew Allar, RB Nicholas Singleton
Mannelly Award (top longsnapper): LS Chris Stoll
Outland Trophy (best interior offensive lineman): OG Saleem Wormely
Bronko Nagurski Trophy (top player on defense): DE Abdul Carter
