Old Dominion University senior linebacker T.J. Ricks was named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List, the Football Writers Association of American and the Charlotte Touchdown Club announced on Friday.
Ricks led Conference USA in tackles last season with an ODU single season record of 123 and finished 11th in the FBS with 10.2 tackles per game. He also added 2.5 sacks, 5.5 tackles for loss, seven pass breakups and an interception. He notched six double-digit tackle games and registered a single-game ODU record with 18 tackles against Charlotte.
A former walk-on from Hampton, Ricks was a semifinalist last season for the Brandon Burlsworth Trophy given to the best player that starts their career as a walk-on.
Ricks is one of 88 players on the watch list and one of two from Conference USA, joining Xavier Woods from Louisiana Tech.
2016 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is presented to the National Defensive Player of the Year by the Charlotte Touchdown Club and the Football Writers Association of America.
Tackles (7)
Montravius Adams, Auburn
Davon Godchaux, LSU
Treyvon Hester, Toledo
Lowell Lotulelei, Utah
Malik McDowell, Michigan State
Eddie Vanderdoes, UCLA
Carlos Watkins, Clemson
Ends (21)
Jonathan Allen, Alabama
Derek Barnett, Tennessee
Josh Carraway, TCU
Hunter Dimick, Utah
Ken Ekanem, Virginia Tech
Devonte Fields, Louisville
Kylie Fitts, Utah
Myles Garrett, Texas A&M
Daeshon Hall, Texas A&M
Charles Harris, Missouri
Marquis Haynes, Ole Miss
Carl Lawson, Auburn
Tyquan Lewis, Ohio State
Jamal Marcus, Akron
Lewis Neal, LSU
Isaac Rochell, Notre Dame
Ja’Von Rolland-Jones, Arkansas State
DeMarcus Walker, Florida State
Charles Walker, Oklahoma
Deatrich Wise Jr., Arkansas
Chris Wormley, Michigan
Linebackers (29)
Kendell Beckwith, LSU
Vince Biegel, Wisconsin
Ben Boulware, Clemson
Richie Brown, Mississippi State
Riley Bullough, Michigan State
Lorenzo Carter, Georgia
Zach Cunningham, Vanderbilt
Jarrad Davis, Florida
Salamo Fiso, Arizona State
Reuben Foster, Alabama
Travin Howard, TCU
Shane Huber, UMass
Malik Jefferson, Texas
Josey Jewell, Iowa
Andrew King, Army
Micah Kiser, Virginia
Elijah Lee, Kansas State
Raekwon McMillan, Ohio State
Calvin Munson, San Diego State
Hardy Nickerson, Illinois
Jabrill Peppers, Michigan
Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Tennessee
TJ Ricks, Old Dominion
Cameron Smith, USC
Steven Taylor, Houston
Tanner Vallejo, Boise State
Azeem Victor, Washington
Anthony Walker, Northwestern
Tim Williams, Alabama
Backs (31)
Jamal Adams, LSU
Chidobe Awuzie, Colorado
Budda Baker, Washington
Dante Barnett, Kansas State
Quin Blanding, Virginia
Tony Conner, Ole Miss
Josh Harvey-Clemons, Louisville
Marlon Humphrey, Alabama
Eddie Jackson, Alabama
Adoreé Jackson, USC
Derwin James, Florida State
Sidney Jones, Washington
Desmond King, Iowa
Jourdan Lewis, Michigan
William Likely, Maryland
Shawun Lurry, Northern Illinois
Marcus Maye, Florida
Fabian Moreau, UCLA
Steven Parker, Oklahoma
Duke Shelley, Kansas State
Weston Steelhammer, Air Force
Jordan Sterns, Oklahoma State
Jamar Summers, UConn
Cameron Sutton, Tennessee
Jalen Tabor, Florida
Cordrea Tankersley, Clemson
Ahmad Thomas, Oklahoma
Tre’Davious White, LSU
Jordan Whitehead, Pittsburgh
Marcus Williams, Utah
Xavier Woods, Louisiana Tech
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