Tandem Tabbed as Nagurski Trophy Candidates
July 23, 2019 | Football
by Brandon Langlois, Associate Director/Communications
DALLAS – Mississippi State's defensive tandem of junior linebacker Erroll Thompson and junior cornerback Cameron Dantzler made the 2019 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List on Tuesday.
The Football Writers Association of America released the list of 92 defensive standouts. The award goes to the best defensive player in college football.
A smart, instinctive, hard-hitting playmaker, Thompson enters 2019 with 133 total tackles, including 14.5 for loss and six sacks, in 26 games played. He has started 16 straight games, including all 13 last season for the nation's top-ranked defense. The Florence, Alabama, product was voted the defensive team captain for the 2019 season by his teammates. Last season, Thompson ranked second on the team in total tackles (87), tied for third in tackles for loss (9.0), added 3.5 sacks and collected a pair of interceptions. He earned second-team All-SEC honors from The Associated Press for his efforts.
Thompson is also a candidate for the Bednarik and Butkus awards.
A preseason All-American, Dantzler is arguably the top returning SEC cornerback this year. He ranked second in the conference last season among corners with a 41.1 passer rating allowed, according to Pro Football Focus, and was one of only four SEC cornerbacks that did not allow a touchdown (min. 345 coverage snaps played). The Louisiana product also had a pair of interceptions and led the Bulldogs in passes defended (11).
Dantzler, who also is a candidate for the Bednarik and Jim Thorpe awards enters his junior season with 68 career tackles, including four for loss and a sack. He has added three interceptions and 15 passes defended.
The 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.
State opens preseason camp on Aug. 2 in preparation for the Aug. 31 season-opener against Louisiana in New Orleans. Tickets for the 2019 season and opener can be purchased at HailState.com/Tickets, by calling 1-888-GO-DAWGS or in person at the MSU Athletic Ticket Office on the first floor of the Bryan Athletic Administration Building (288 Lakeview Drive), Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow MSU football on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB."
Mississippi State on 2019 Preseason Watch Lists
Maxwell Award
Kylin Hill, Jr., RB
Bednarik Award
Cameron Dantzler, Jr., CB
Erroll Thompson, Jr., LB
Doak Walker Award
Kylin Hill, Jr., RB
Rimington Trophy
Darryl Williams, Sr., C
John Mackey Award
Farrod Green, Sr., TE
Butkus Award
Erroll Thompson, Jr., LB
Willie Gay Jr., Jr., LB
Jim Thorpe Award
Cameron Dantzler, Jr., CB
Bronko Nagurski Trophy
Cameron Dantzler, Jr., CB
Erroll Thompson, Jr., LB
Outland Trophy
Darryl Williams, Sr., C
2019 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List
Tackles (7)
Derrick Brown, Auburn
Ray Lima, Iowa State
Justin Madubuke, Texas A&M
Jordon Scott, Oregon
Khyiris Tonga, BYU
Marvin Wilson, Florida State
Robert Windsor, Penn State
Ends (21)
Bradlee Anae, Utah
JaQuan Bailey, Iowa State
Nick Coe, Auburn
Raekwon Davis, Alabama
Victor Dimukeje, Duke
A.J. Epenesa, Iowa
Jonathan Garvin, Miami
Joe Gaziano, Northwestern
Yetur Gross-Matos, Penn State
Wyatt Hubert, Kansas State
Mustafa Johnson, Colorado
Patrick Johnson, Tulane
Khalid Kareem, Notre Dame
Julian Okwara, Notre Dame
Alton Robinson, Syracuse
Xavier Thomas, Clemson
Jay Tufele, USC
Curtis Weaver, Boise State
Kenny Willekes, Michigan State
Chase Young, Ohio State
Jabari Zuniga, Florida
Linebackers (36)
Rayshard Ashby, Virginia Tech
Joe Bachie, Michigan State
Markus Bailey, Purdue
Shaun Bradley, Temple
Jordyn Brooks, Texas Tech
Carter Coughlin, Minnesota
Troy Dye, Oregon
Cooper Edmiston, Tulsa
Jordan Fehr, Appalachian State
Paddy Fisher, Northwestern
Lawrence Garner, Old Dominion
Cale Garrett, Missouri
Ky'el Hemby, Southern Miss
Bryce Huff, Memphis
Anfernee Jennings, Alabama
Clay Johnston, Baylor
Antonio Jones-Davis, NIU
Nate Landman, Colorado
Sage Lewis, FIU
Bryan London II, Texas State
Jordan Mack, Virginia
Dylan Moses, Alabama
Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma
Micah Parsons, Penn State
Jacob Phillips, LSU
Shaquille Quarterman, Miami
Merlin Robertson, Arizona State
Colin Schooler, Arizona
Isaiah Simmons, Clemson
Marcel Spears, Iowa State
Darrell Taylor, Tennessee
Kyahva Tezino, San Diego State
Erroll Thompson, Mississippi State
Mykal Walker, Fresno State
Evan Weaver, California
David Woodward, Utah State
Backs (28)
DeMarkus Acy, Missouri
Paulson Adebo, Stanford
Essang Bassey, Wake Forest
Antoine Brooks Jr., Maryland
Myles Bryant, Washington
Andre Cisco, Syracuse
Cameron Dantzler, Mississippi State
Grant Delpit, LSU
Trevon Diggs, Alabama
Jordan Fuller, Ohio State
Kristian Fulton, LSU
Alohi Gilman, Notre Dame
Jeff Gladney, TCU
Richie Grant, UCF
A.J. Green, Oklahoma State
Javon Hagan, Ohio
Bryce Hall, Virginia
CJ Henderson, Florida
Lavert Hill, Michigan
Jaylon Johnson, Utah
Brandon Jones, Texas
Kevin McGill, Eastern Michigan
Josh Metellus, Michigan
Elijah Riley, Army
Amik Robertson, Louisiana Tech
J.R. Reed, Georgia
Caden Sterns, Texas
James Wiggins, Cincinnati
DALLAS – Mississippi State's defensive tandem of junior linebacker Erroll Thompson and junior cornerback Cameron Dantzler made the 2019 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List on Tuesday.
The Football Writers Association of America released the list of 92 defensive standouts. The award goes to the best defensive player in college football.
A smart, instinctive, hard-hitting playmaker, Thompson enters 2019 with 133 total tackles, including 14.5 for loss and six sacks, in 26 games played. He has started 16 straight games, including all 13 last season for the nation's top-ranked defense. The Florence, Alabama, product was voted the defensive team captain for the 2019 season by his teammates. Last season, Thompson ranked second on the team in total tackles (87), tied for third in tackles for loss (9.0), added 3.5 sacks and collected a pair of interceptions. He earned second-team All-SEC honors from The Associated Press for his efforts.
Thompson is also a candidate for the Bednarik and Butkus awards.
A preseason All-American, Dantzler is arguably the top returning SEC cornerback this year. He ranked second in the conference last season among corners with a 41.1 passer rating allowed, according to Pro Football Focus, and was one of only four SEC cornerbacks that did not allow a touchdown (min. 345 coverage snaps played). The Louisiana product also had a pair of interceptions and led the Bulldogs in passes defended (11).
Dantzler, who also is a candidate for the Bednarik and Jim Thorpe awards enters his junior season with 68 career tackles, including four for loss and a sack. He has added three interceptions and 15 passes defended.
The 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.
State opens preseason camp on Aug. 2 in preparation for the Aug. 31 season-opener against Louisiana in New Orleans. Tickets for the 2019 season and opener can be purchased at HailState.com/Tickets, by calling 1-888-GO-DAWGS or in person at the MSU Athletic Ticket Office on the first floor of the Bryan Athletic Administration Building (288 Lakeview Drive), Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow MSU football on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB."
Mississippi State on 2019 Preseason Watch Lists
Maxwell Award
Kylin Hill, Jr., RB
Bednarik Award
Cameron Dantzler, Jr., CB
Erroll Thompson, Jr., LB
Doak Walker Award
Kylin Hill, Jr., RB
Rimington Trophy
Darryl Williams, Sr., C
John Mackey Award
Farrod Green, Sr., TE
Butkus Award
Erroll Thompson, Jr., LB
Willie Gay Jr., Jr., LB
Jim Thorpe Award
Cameron Dantzler, Jr., CB
Bronko Nagurski Trophy
Cameron Dantzler, Jr., CB
Erroll Thompson, Jr., LB
Outland Trophy
Darryl Williams, Sr., C
2019 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List
Tackles (7)
Derrick Brown, Auburn
Ray Lima, Iowa State
Justin Madubuke, Texas A&M
Jordon Scott, Oregon
Khyiris Tonga, BYU
Marvin Wilson, Florida State
Robert Windsor, Penn State
Ends (21)
Bradlee Anae, Utah
JaQuan Bailey, Iowa State
Nick Coe, Auburn
Raekwon Davis, Alabama
Victor Dimukeje, Duke
A.J. Epenesa, Iowa
Jonathan Garvin, Miami
Joe Gaziano, Northwestern
Yetur Gross-Matos, Penn State
Wyatt Hubert, Kansas State
Mustafa Johnson, Colorado
Patrick Johnson, Tulane
Khalid Kareem, Notre Dame
Julian Okwara, Notre Dame
Alton Robinson, Syracuse
Xavier Thomas, Clemson
Jay Tufele, USC
Curtis Weaver, Boise State
Kenny Willekes, Michigan State
Chase Young, Ohio State
Jabari Zuniga, Florida
Linebackers (36)
Rayshard Ashby, Virginia Tech
Joe Bachie, Michigan State
Markus Bailey, Purdue
Shaun Bradley, Temple
Jordyn Brooks, Texas Tech
Carter Coughlin, Minnesota
Troy Dye, Oregon
Cooper Edmiston, Tulsa
Jordan Fehr, Appalachian State
Paddy Fisher, Northwestern
Lawrence Garner, Old Dominion
Cale Garrett, Missouri
Ky'el Hemby, Southern Miss
Bryce Huff, Memphis
Anfernee Jennings, Alabama
Clay Johnston, Baylor
Antonio Jones-Davis, NIU
Nate Landman, Colorado
Sage Lewis, FIU
Bryan London II, Texas State
Jordan Mack, Virginia
Dylan Moses, Alabama
Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma
Micah Parsons, Penn State
Jacob Phillips, LSU
Shaquille Quarterman, Miami
Merlin Robertson, Arizona State
Colin Schooler, Arizona
Isaiah Simmons, Clemson
Marcel Spears, Iowa State
Darrell Taylor, Tennessee
Kyahva Tezino, San Diego State
Erroll Thompson, Mississippi State
Mykal Walker, Fresno State
Evan Weaver, California
David Woodward, Utah State
Backs (28)
DeMarkus Acy, Missouri
Paulson Adebo, Stanford
Essang Bassey, Wake Forest
Antoine Brooks Jr., Maryland
Myles Bryant, Washington
Andre Cisco, Syracuse
Cameron Dantzler, Mississippi State
Grant Delpit, LSU
Trevon Diggs, Alabama
Jordan Fuller, Ohio State
Kristian Fulton, LSU
Alohi Gilman, Notre Dame
Jeff Gladney, TCU
Richie Grant, UCF
A.J. Green, Oklahoma State
Javon Hagan, Ohio
Bryce Hall, Virginia
CJ Henderson, Florida
Lavert Hill, Michigan
Jaylon Johnson, Utah
Brandon Jones, Texas
Kevin McGill, Eastern Michigan
Josh Metellus, Michigan
Elijah Riley, Army
Amik Robertson, Louisiana Tech
J.R. Reed, Georgia
Caden Sterns, Texas
James Wiggins, Cincinnati
Players Mentioned
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