Several USC Trojans Named Finalists and Semifinalists for National Awards

Several USC Trojans players, coaches and position groups were named semifinalists and finalists for national honors over the past 24 hours. The Trojans are 9-1 and ranked No. 7 in the nation at this point in the season. And with that typically comes plenty of team and individual recognition. USC will have an opportunity to make significant statements over the coming weeks with games against No. 16 UCLA, No. 18 Notre Dame and potentially another ranked matchup in the Pac-12 Championship Game.

Bronko Nagurski Finalist

USC defensive lineman Tuli Tuipulotu is one of four finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Award, given annually to the nation’s top defensive player.

The other finalists are linebacker Will Anderson of Alabama, defensive tackle Calijah Kancey of Pitt and safety Chris Smith of Georgia.

Tuipulotu leads the nation with 11.5 sacks and ranks second in sacks per game. He leads the Pac-12 and is No. 4 nationally in tackles for loss per game. Tuipulotu also has three pass breakups, two quarterback hurries (one of them resulting in a safety) and two forced fumbles.

USC does not have a Nagurski Trophy winner in its history. The trophy has been awarded annually since 1993. Former USC linebacker Rey Maualuga is the most recent USC finalist, in 2008. Alabama’s Will Anderson is looking to become the second back-to-back winner of the award. Northwestern linebacker Pat Fitzgerald won it in 1995 and 1996.

The award is chosen by the Football Writers Association of America All-America Committee, with input from the FWAA membership.

Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award Semifinalists

USC’s Caleb Williams is going to be in the mix for numerous quarterback awards this year and next year. One of those is the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award. Williams was one of 21 semifinalists named yesterday. It’s the second year in a row he’s been a semifinalist for the award given to the nation’s top quarterback since 1981.

No USC quarterback has ever won the award. Iowa’s Brad Banks won in 2002 and Oklahoma’s Jason White won in 2004 while Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart were collecting their Heisman Trophies.

USC head coach Lincoln Riley has experience winning these. Oklahoma quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray won in 2017 and 2018, respectively. UCLA’s Troy Aikman and Oregon’s Marcus Mariota are the only Pac-12 winners.

The Broyles Award Nominee

The Broyles Award has been given each year since 1996 to the top assistant coach in college football. USC defensive line coach Shaun Nua was one of 51 nominees announced yesterday.

Eventually, a 43-member selection committee of former head coaches, broadcasters and a committee representing the FWAA will narrow the list down to 15 semifinalists and then five finalists.

USC’s defensive line is led by Tuipulotu and the Trojans are tied for No. 9 in the nation in sacks per game.

USC has one Boyles Award winner in its history. Former offensive coordinator Norm Chow won in 2002. USC head coach Lincoln Riley won it in 2015 while he was the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma.

Joe Moore Award Finalist

The USC big men up front were honored yesterday with their inclusion as a Joe Moore Award Finalist.

The Joe Moore Award is given to the nation’s most outstanding offensive line and selected its nine finalists for the 2022 season.

USC joined Air Force, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Ole Miss, Oregon, Tennessee and UCLA as finalists.

The voting committee provides a review of each program as to why it’s included as a finalist. Here’s what they said about the Trojans:

“USC’s offensive line has been transformed and revitalized under new leadership this season. They are turning the corner. This group has been able to open up running lanes using a variety of schemes with multiple running backs. Riley’s offenses always have a toughness to them, like the 2017 unit that won it [the Joe Moore Award]. Willing to get dirty. Finally have some guys looking for work and keep themselves in front of defenders in passing situations. They are outstanding when asked to block in the play-action pass game.”