UVA safety Juan Thornhill was named to the preseason Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List, announced the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and the Charlotte Touchdown Club on Tuesday (July 24). The Nagurski Trophy annually recognizes the top defensive player in the nation.
Thornhill (Altavista, Va.) was a third-team All-ACC honoree in 2017 after sharing the team lead with four interceptions. He finished the season No. 3 in the ACC and No. 14 in the nation in passes defended (1.3 per game). Thornhill added 63 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss as a junior. He has also been named to the preseason Bednarik Award Watch List.
Thornhill is one of 13 players from the ACC on the watch list, which includes 97 defensive players. He is one of five ACC defensive backs on the list.
Players may be added or removed from the watch list during the course of the season. As in previous years, 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 2018 Bronko Nagurski Trophy on Nov. 14.
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner 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.
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