Hardy Nickerson, LB, Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy named Illinois linebacker Hardy Nickerson to its watch list, the Charlotte Touchdown Club announced Friday. It is the Fighting Illini defense's second watch list after Dawuane Smoot appeared on the Bednarik Award list.
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy
Created in 1993 by the Football Writers Association of America, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy is awarded to the best defensive player in college football and is presented by the Charlotte Touchdown Club. The award was established to complement the Heisman Trophy Award, which at the time had never been presented to a defensive player.
» Full Watch List
» By Conference: SEC (27), Big Ten (13), Pac-12 (13), ACC (11), Big 12 (10), Mid-American (4), Mountain West (3), American Athletic (2), Conference USA (2), Independents (2), Sun Belt (1)
» By Position: Backs (31), Linebackers (29), Ends (21), Tackles (7)
» Last three winners: Tyler Matakevich (Temple), Scooby Wright III (Arizona), Aaron Donald (Pitt)
» Former Illini Whitney Mercilus was a finalist in 2011
Hardy Nickerson
• Senior linebacker from Oakland, Calif. (Bishop O'Dowd HS)
• Transferred to Illinois with one year of eligibility left
• Immediately eligible after graduating from California with a degree in legal studies
• Father, Hardy Nickerson, is Illinois' defensive coordinator
• Three-year starter at California (2013-15)
• Cal team captain in 2015
• Played in 35 games during his career with the Golden Bears
• 246 tackles, 9.0 TFLs, one interception, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries during three seasons
• Led Cal in tackles with 112, including 54 solo, in 2015
• Third in the Pac-12 with 112 tackles in 2015
• 10+ tackles in six of the last eight games of 2015
• 16-tackle effort during a 48-46 win against Arizona State in his final game for Cal
• Two-time Pac-12 All-Academic
• Redshirted as a freshman in 2012
Illini on 2016 Preseason Watch Lists (as of 7/8)
Wes Lunt – Maxwell Award (Off. POY)
Hardy Nickerson – Nagurski Trophy (Def. POY)
Dawuane Smoot – Bednarik Award (Def. POY)
Joe Spencer – Rimington Trophy (C)
