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Koonce and Riggins Named to Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List
7/21/2020 1:07:00 PM | Football
DALLAS – University at Buffalo senior defensive ends Malcolm Koonce and Taylor Riggins have been named to the watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, presented annually to the best defensive player in college football.
Koonce was an All-MAC First Team selection in 2019 after leading the Mid-American Conference in sacks with nine. The senior defensive end added 34 tackles and 11 tackles for loss on the season. He was named the Defensive MVP of the 2019 Bahamas Bowl after recording five tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble against Charlotte.
Riggins was named to the All-MAC First Team after tallying 8.5 sacks in 2019, second only to Koonce in the MAC. He added 50 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and three fumble recoveries on the season. Riggins has also been named to the Bednarik Award Watch List.
The FWAA will announce a National Defensive Player of the Week each Tuesday this season. If not already on the watch list, each week's honored player will be added at that time. The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce five finalists for the 2020 Bronko Nagurski Trophy.
The winner of the 2020 Bronko Nagurski Trophy presented by LendingTree as the National Defensive Player of the Year will be chosen from those five finalists. The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the association's full membership, selects a 26-man All-America Team and eventually the Nagurski Trophy finalists. Committee members, by individual ballot, select the winner they regard as the best defensive player in college football.
Click here for the entire Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List.
UB Players on Preseason Watch Lists
Bednarik Award – Taylor Riggins
Doak Walker Award – Jaret Patterson, Kevin Marks
Jim Thorpe Award – Tyrone Hill
Outland Trophy – Kayode Awosika
Bronko Nagurski Trophy – Malcolm Koonce, Taylor Riggins
Koonce was an All-MAC First Team selection in 2019 after leading the Mid-American Conference in sacks with nine. The senior defensive end added 34 tackles and 11 tackles for loss on the season. He was named the Defensive MVP of the 2019 Bahamas Bowl after recording five tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble against Charlotte.
Riggins was named to the All-MAC First Team after tallying 8.5 sacks in 2019, second only to Koonce in the MAC. He added 50 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and three fumble recoveries on the season. Riggins has also been named to the Bednarik Award Watch List.
The FWAA will announce a National Defensive Player of the Week each Tuesday this season. If not already on the watch list, each week's honored player will be added at that time. The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce five finalists for the 2020 Bronko Nagurski Trophy.
The winner of the 2020 Bronko Nagurski Trophy presented by LendingTree as the National Defensive Player of the Year will be chosen from those five finalists. The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the association's full membership, selects a 26-man All-America Team and eventually the Nagurski Trophy finalists. Committee members, by individual ballot, select the winner they regard as the best defensive player in college football.
Click here for the entire Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List.
UB Players on Preseason Watch Lists
Bednarik Award – Taylor Riggins
Doak Walker Award – Jaret Patterson, Kevin Marks
Jim Thorpe Award – Tyrone Hill
Outland Trophy – Kayode Awosika
Bronko Nagurski Trophy – Malcolm Koonce, Taylor Riggins
Players Mentioned
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