The University of Akron Athletics
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Wagner Named to Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List
July 08 | Football
DALLAS – University of Akron junior linebacker Brian Wagner was one of 87 players named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List, announced on Friday.
One player on the list most likely will receive the Nagurski Trophy that is awarded annually to the nation's best defensive player by the Football Writers Association of America and the Charlotte Touchdown Club. Every NCAA Division I Bowl Subdivision conference and Notre Dame are represented on the list that is pretty evenly divided among linemen, linebackers and defensive backs. Players may be added or deleted from the watch list during the season.
View FWAA Nagurski Trophy press release | View Nagurski Trophy Watch List in PDF format
For the 11th-straight year, the FWAA will choose a National Defensive Player of the Week. If that player is not on the Nagurski Trophy Watch List, he automatically will be added. The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce five finalists for the Nagurski Trophy on Nov. 17.
Read about Bronko Nagurski
Wagner, who hails from Springfield, Ohio (Springfield Catholic Central HS) led Akron in tackles each of the last two seasons (130 in 2010, 132 in 2009) and has been a starter in all 24 games of his collegiate career. His 10.8 tackles per game in 2010 ranked tied for 12th nationally and fourth best in the Mid-American Conference. Also in 2010, he posted 6 pass breakups, 3.5 tackles for loss (32 yards), 2 interceptions (34 yards), 2 sacks (29 yards), 2 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery for a touchdown (57 yards). He is a member of the Akron football program's 12-player Team Leadership Council and in 2009 was selected as a Freshman All-American by Sporting News (first team), Phil Steele (second team) and College Football News (third team).
Wagner is one of three MAC players on the Nagurski Trophy Watch List, joined by Kent State defensive end Roosevelt Nix and Temple defensive end Adrian Robinson.
The Nagurski Trophy winner is chosen from five finalists who are part of the FWAA All-America Team. The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the entire membership, selects the 25-man team and eventually the Nagurski finalists. Committee members, then by individual ballot, select the winner, the best defensive player in America.
The annual Nagurski Trophy Banquet will be on Dec. 12 at the Westin Hotel in Charlotte, N.C. Besides the 2011 winner being announced, the banquet will also celebrate the recipient of the Bronko Nagurski Legends Award presented by Florida East Coast Railway. Florida's Jack Youngblood, an end from the FWAA's 1970 All-American team, will be honored. Georgia head coach Mark Richt will be the keynote speaker at the banquet.
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is part of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). The NCFAA was founded in 1997 as a coalition of the major collegiate football awards to protect, preserve and enhance the integrity, influence and prestige of the game's predominant awards. The NCFAA encourages professionalism and the highest standards for the administration of its member awards and the selection of their candidates and recipients. For more information, visit the association's official website, NCFAA.org.
Akron opens its 2011 season on Sept. 3 at Ohio State. Kickoff is set for noon ET and the contest is scheduled to be carried live on either ESPN or ESPN2. The Zips' home opener at InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field comes on Sept. 10 versus MAC East foe Temple. That game will begin at 6 p.m., and be covered by ESPN3, the network's broadband channel. A variety of special events will encompass the day, including a salute to local heroes (police, fire, safety) and a Military Appreciation Day, as well as ticket promotions designed for employees of both the city of Akron and Summit County, and local motorcycle organizations.
Tickets can be purchased online anytime at GoZips.com/tickets, or from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET on Mondays through Fridays by either calling 1-888-99-AKRON (25766) or visiting the Akron Athletics Ticket Office at InfoCision Stadium - Summa Field (located at 375 E. Exchange Street, near Gate 1 at the southwest corner of the venue, at the corner of E. Exchange and S. Union streets).
