On Wednesday, Auburn star defensive tackle Derrick Brown was named one of five finalists for the 2019 Bronko Nagurski Trophy. The Nagurski Trophy is given annually to the best defensive player in college football.
The Sugar Hill, GA, native is one of Auburn’s team captains. Consistently double-teamed, he has still produced nine tackles for a loss and four sacks on the season. The senior has played well against highly ranked opponents, notching seven tackles against LSU and six against Georgia.
Brown has been named SEC defensive player of the week three times. He is the third Auburn Tiger to be a finalist in the award’s history, after Nick Fairley in 2010 and Carlos Rogers in 2004.
J.R. Reed of the Georgia Bulldogs joins Brown as the only two finalists from the SEC.
The winner will be announced at a banquet on December 9, at the Charlotte Convention Center.
Bronislau “Bronko” Nagurski was a standout defensive player for the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the 1920s and went on to have a hall of fame career with the Chicago Bears.
Full list of finalists as follows:
Auburn DT Derrick Brown
Georgia S J.R. Reed
Clemson LB Isaiah Simmons
Minnesota DB Antoine Winfield, Jr.
Ohio State DE Chase Young
Henry Thornton is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can contact him by email: [email protected] or on Twitter @HenryThornton95.
Don’t miss out! Subscribe today to have Alabama’s leading headlines delivered to your inbox.