The Atlantic Coast Conference had 13 players named to the Nagurski Trophy preseason watch list and had eight players tabbed to the Outland Trophy preseason watch list by the Football Writers of Association of America announced Friday
In all, 88 players were named to the Nagurski Trophy watch list, which is the FWAA’s National Defensive Player of the Year. The FWAA named 81 players to the Outland preseason watch list. The Outland is presented annually to the nation’s top interior lineman on offense or defense.
Pitt defensive tackle Aaron Donald was the last ACC player to win both awards. Donald won both in 2013.
Donald was the seventh player from a current ACC school to win the Nagurski. He was preceded by Warren Sapp of Miami (1994), Corey Moore of Virginia Tech (1999), Dan Morgan of Miami (2000), Elvis Dumervil of Louisville (2005), Da’Quan Bowers of Clemson (2010) and Luke Kuechly of Boston College (2011).
Beginning with Bowers in 2010, ACC players have won three of the last five Nagurski Trophies.
Donald became the ninth player to win the Outland Trophy from a current ACC school or a school that was in the ACC at the time of the award. He is joined by Mike McGee of Duke (1959), Randy White of Maryland (1974), Jim Ritcher of NC State (1979), Mark May of Pitt (1980), Bruce Smith of Virginia Tech (1984), Mike Ruth of Boston College (1985), Russell Maryland of Miami (1990) and Bryant McKinnie of Miami (2001).
Three ACC players were repeat selections on the Nagurski preseason list, including Jeremy Cash of Duke, Kendall Fuller of Virginia Tech and Luther Maddy of Virginia Tech. Maddy was also the only repeat ACC choice by the Outland preseason watch list.
The ACC members of the 2015 preseason Bronko Nagurski Trophy preseason watch list are:
Name School Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Hometown
Quin Blanding Virginia S 6-4 215 So. Virginia Beach, Va.
James Burgess Louisville LB 6-0 229 Sr. Homestead, Fla.
Maurice Canady Virginia DB 6-2 185 Sr. Richmond, Va.
Jeremy Cash Duke S 6-2 205 Sr.-R Miami, Fla.
Ken Ekanem Virginia Tech DE 6-3 249 Jr.-R Centreville, Va.
Kendall Fuller Virginia Tech CB 6-0 190 Jr. Baltimore, Md.
Adam Gotsis Georgia Tech DT 6-5 282 Sr. Abbotsford, Australia
Luther Maddy Virginia Tech DT 6-1 293 Sr.-R Delray Beach, Fla.
Corey Marshall Virginia Tech DT 6-2 262 Sr.-R North Dinwiddie, Va.
Dadi Nicolas Virginia Tech DE 6-4 231 Sr.-R Delray Beach, Fla.
Jalen Ramsey Florida State CB 6-1 201 Jr. Smyrna, Tenn.
Sheldon Rankins Louisville DE 6-2 303 Sr. Covington, Ga.
Terrance Smith Florida State LB 6-4 231 Sr.-R Decatur, Ga.
The ACC Members of the 2015 preseason Outland Trophy preseason watch list are:
Name School Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Hometown
Adam Gotsis Georgia Tech DT 6-5 282 Sr. Abbotsford, Australia
Roderick Johnson Florida State T 6-7 312 So. Florissant, Mo.
Luther Maddy Virginia Tech DT 6-1 293 Sr.-R Delray Beach, Fla.
Corey Marshall Virginia Tech DT 6-2 262 Sr.-R North Dinwiddie, Va.
Matt Skura Duke C 6-4 305 Sr.-R Columbus, Ohio
Wyatt Teller Virginia Tech G 6-6 301 So.-R Bealeton, Va.
Landon Turner North Carolina G 6-4 325 Sr. Harrisonburg, Va.
Connor Wujciak Boston College DT 6-3 300 Sr. West Caldwell, N.J.
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