N.C. State’s Bradley Chubb named Nagurski Trophy finalist
N.C. State defensive end Bradley Chubb is among five finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which goes to the nation’s top defensive player and will be presented at the Charlotte Convention Center on Dec. 4.
Chubb is joined by Alabama safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, Iowa middle linebacker Josey Jewell, Houston tackle Ed Oliver and Georgia outside linebacker Roquan Smith.
The Nagurski trophy is presented by the Football Writers Association of America and the Charlotte Touchdown Club. Georgia coach Kirby Smart will be the keynote speaker at the banquet.
Former Notre Dame star Ross Browner will receiver this year’s Legend’s Award, while the Defender of the Nation Award will go to Virginia Military’s Greg Sanders.
Alabama end Jonathan Allen won the trophy in 2016. Previous winners include Boston College’s Luke Kuechly in 2011, Arizona State’s Terrell Suggs in 2002 and Miami’s Dan Morgan in 2000.
Bronko Nagurski Trophy finalists
Bradley Chubb, DE, N.C. State (6-4, 275, Sr., Marietta, Ga.): Chubb leads the FBS in tackles for loss this season for the Wolfpack (7-3). Of his 23.5 tackles for loss (for minus-98 yards), 10 have been sacks for 66 yards in losses. He has 62 total tackles, nine quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles, two passes broken up and a blocked kick. Chubb joins linebacker Levar Fisher (2000) as the only Wolfpack players to earn a Nagurski finalist nod.
Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, Alabama (6-1, 202, Jr., Old Bridge, N.J.): The leader of the defensive backfield for the Crimson Tide (10-0), Fitzpatrick has made 44 total tackles, collected 5.5 tackles for 25 yards in losses, including 1.5 sacks for 15 yards in losses. In addition, he has intercepted a pass, broken up six passes, hurried the quarterback three times, forced a fumble and blocked a kick. Alabama ranks eighth in the country in fewest passing yards allowed per game (167 ypg). Fitzpatrick is the 11th Alabama player to be a Nagurski finalist, including last year’s recipient Jonathan Allen. The Crimson Tide has had a finalist now in each of the past seven seasons.
Josey Jewell, MLB, Iowa (6-2, 236, Sr., Decorah, Iowa): Jewell is fourth in the country in total tackles (104) for the Hawkeyes (6-4). He has registered 9.5 tackles for 39 yards in losses (including 2.5 sacks for 24 yards in losses). He has chipped in an interception (and returned it 33 yards) and added five passes broken up, three quarterback hurries, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble. Jewell is the second Iowa player to be named a Nagurksi finalist, joining linebacker Pat Angerer in 2009.
Ed Oliver, DT, Houston (6-3, 290, So., Houston): A second-team FWAA All-American in 2016, Oliver followed up his freshman season with another fine year. He has 53 total tackles for the Cougars (6-3). Of those, he has 10 tackles for 39 yards in losses (with 2.5 sacks for 13 yards in losses), three passes broken up, seven quarterback hurries, one fumble recovery, two forced fumbles and one blocked kick. Oliver is the first Houston player to earn a Nagurski finalist accolade.
Roquan Smith, OLB, Georgia (6-1, 225, Jr., Montezuma, Ga.): The leading tackler for the Bulldogs (9-1), Smith has made 82 total tackles this season. He has 4.5 tackles for loss, including 2.5 sacks for 14 yards in losses. He also has broken up two passes, hurried the quarterback 10 times and forced a fumble. Georgia ranks fifth in the FBS in total defense, allowing just 277.5 yards per game. Smith is the fifth Georgia player to be named a Nagurski finalist, joining 1998 recipient Champ Bailey and two-time finalist David Pollack (2002, ’04).
David Scott
This story was originally published November 15, 2017 at 5:32 PM with the headline "N.C. State’s Bradley Chubb named Nagurski Trophy finalist."