South Carolina EDGE Kyle Kennard wins Nagurski Trophy as top defensive player in college football
On Monday night, South Carolina senior EDGE Kyle Kennard won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the top defensive player in all of college football. Kennard beat out Texas Longhorns defensive back Jahdae Barron, Penn State Nittany Lions EDGE Abdul Carter, and Michigan Wolverines defensive tackle Mason Graham for the honor.
After transferring from Georgia Tech to South Carolina this offseason, Kennard delivered an unforgettable 2024 campaign to the Gamecocks. One-half of the country’s best pass rush tandem (along with true freshman Dylan Stewart), Kennard logged 11.5 sacks and 16 tackles for loss this season. Both numbers led the SEC and were top 10 in the country.
Kennard is the first South Carolina football player to win the Nagurski Trophy. The Football Writers Association of America presented him with his award at a banquet in Charlotte.
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From the South Carolina Athletics press release:
COLUMBIA, S.C. (December 9, 2024) – University of South Carolina senior Edge rusher Kyle Kennard has been selected as the winner of the 2024 Bronco Nagurski Trophy, which honors the nation’s top defensive player, the Football Writers Association of America and the Charlotte Touchdown Club announced tonight at its annual banquet in Charlotte.
Kennard becomes South Carolina’s first winner of the Nagurski Trophy. Its lone prior finalist was Jadeveon Clowney in 2012. Kennard was selected over the other finalists, Texas defensive back Jahdae Barron, Penn State defensive end Adbul Carter, and Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham.
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Kennard, a 6-5, 254-pound senior from Atlanta, Ga., posted 15.5 tackles for loss including 11.5 sacks during the 2024 season. Both marks led the Southeastern Conference, and his sack total ranked sixth in the nation. His single-season sack total also ranks second in school history behind Clowney’s 13.0 in 2012, while his tackles for loss total is the school’s fourth-highest single-season mark. Kennard was also credited with 10 quarterback hurries and forced three fumbles.
Kennard, who is also a finalist for the Lombardi Award which will be announced on Wednesday, was named to the Reese’s Senior Bowl All-America team and to the USA TODAY All-SEC team. He is a finalist for the Blanchard-Rogers Trophy, widely regarded as the “South Carolina Heisman” and has accepted an invitation to play in the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl.
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 is a member of the National College Football Awards Association. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football’s most prestigious awards and its 24 awards have honored more than 900 recipients dating back to 1935. For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit NCFAA.org or follow on X at @NCFAA.
