Aqib Talib Named To Nagurski Watch List

June 12, 2007

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

Kansas cornerback Aqib Talib has been named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy preseason watch list it was announced by the Football Writers Association of America on Tuesday.

The award goes to the best defensive player in college football and is sponsored by The Charlotte Touchdown Club. In all 49 players have been tabbed to the preseason watch list.

Talib, a junior-to-be from Richardson, Texas, led the nation in passes defended a year ago with 2.80 per game. He also tied for the lead in the Big 12 Conference with six interceptions, while making 42 total tackles. For his efforts in 2006 he was named a first-team all-conference selection while earning second-team All-America honors by SI.com. This year Talib has also been named a preseason All-America by Playboy magazine.

“Aqib is very deserving to be on this list,” said Kansas head coach Mark Mangino. “He is preparing himself to have an outstanding season.”

The FWAA All-America Committee selects the Bronko Nagurski winner from the association’s 11-man All-America defensive team in November. The watch list was developed by the FWAA All-America committee with the help of the schools and conferences.

The Charlotte Touchdown Club will hold the 2007 banquet on Monday, Dec. 3, at the Westin Hotel in Charlotte. Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis won the 2006 Bronko Nagurski Trophy.

For the seventh straight season, the FWAA will also select a Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week beginning with games on Sept. 1 through mid-November.

The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is awarded in memory of the legendary Nagurski, a former All-America lineman at Minnesota in 1927-29 and a star for professional football’s Chicago Bears in the 1930s.

Kansas will open its 2007 season hosting defending Mid-American Conference champion Central Michigan on Sept. 1. Season tickets are available through the ticket office at 1-800-34-HAWKS or through the department’s website at kuathletics.com.

2007 Bronko Nagurski Watch List

Player, School Pos. Yr. Hometown
Tommy Blake, TCU DE Sr. Aransas Pass, Texas
Jasper Brinkley, South Carolina LB Sr. Thomson, Ga.
Calais Campbell, Miami DE Jr. Denver, Colo.
Antoine Cason, Arizona CB Sr. Long Beach, Calif.
Matt Castelo, San Jose State LB Sr. San Jose, Calif.
Barry Church, Toledo FS So. Pittsburgh, Pa.
Joe Clermond, Pittsburgh DE Sr. Tampa, Fla.
Tyler Clutts, Fresno State DE Sr. Clovis, Calif.
Dan Connor, Penn State LB Sr. Wallingford, Pa.
Shawn Crable, Michigan LB Sr. Massillon, Ohio
Maurice Crum, Notre Dame LB Sr. Riverview, Fla.
Bruce Davis, UCLA DE Sr. Houston, Texas
Quintin Demps, UTEP FS Sr. San Antonio, Texas
Derrick Doggett, Oregon State LB Sr. San Diego, Calif.
Glenn Dorsey, LSU DT Sr. Gonzales, La.
Jolonn Dunbar, Boston College LB Sr. Syracuse, N.Y.
Larry English, Northern Illinois DE Jr. Aurora, Ill.
Eric Foster, Rutgers DT Sr. Homestead, Fla.
Drew Fowler, Air Force LB Sr. Clayton, N.C.
Stanley Franks, Idaho CB Sr. Long Beach, Calif.
Adrian Grady, Louisville DT Jr. Nichollsville, Ga.
Courtney Greene, Rutgers S Jr. New Rochelle, N.Y.
Quentin Groves, Auburn DE Sr. Greenville, Miss.
Vince Hall, Virginia Tech LB Sr. Chesapeake, Va.
Erin Henderson, Maryland LB Jr. Aberdeen, Md.
Matt Hines, Nevada DT Sr. Modesto, Calif.
Tyrell Johnson, Arkansas State S Sr. Rison, Ark.
Jeremy Jones, UTEP LB Sr. San Jose, Calif.
James Laurinaitis, Ohio State LB Jr. Hamel, Minn.
Derek Lokey, Texas DT Sr. Denton, Texas
Chris Long, Virginia DE Sr. Ivy, Va.
Dwight Lowery, San Jose State CB Sr. Santa Cruz, Calif.
Jameel McClain, Syracuse DE Sr. Philadelphia, Pa.
Albert McClellan, Marshall DE Jr. Lakeland, Fla.
Gerald McRath, Southern Miss LB So. Powder Springs, Ga. R
ey Maualuga, USC LB Jr. Eureka, Calif.
Jerod Mayo, Tennessee LB Jr. Hampton, Va.
Ben Moffitt, South Florida LB Sr. Bushnell, Fla.
Jesse Nading, Colorado State DE Sr. Highlands Ranch, Colo.
Chase Ortiz, TCU DE Sr. League City, Texas
Brian Raines, Rice LB Jr. Missouri City, Texas
Keith Rivers, USC LB Sr. Lake Mary, Fla.
Reggie Smith, Oklahoma SS Jr. Edmond, Okla.
Aqib Talib, Kansas CB Jr. Richardson, Texas
Steve Tate, Utah FS Sr. Salt Lake City, Utah
Philip Wheeler, Georgia Tech LB Sr. Columbus, Ga.
Wesley Woodyard, Kentucky LB Sr. LaGrange, Ga.
Tom Zbikowski, Notre Dame S Sr. Arlington Heights, Ill.