Blace Brown Named to Bronko Nagurski Watch List

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TROY, Alabama - Troy junior cornerback Blace Brown has been named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List, the Charlotte Touchdown Club and the Football Writers Association (FWAA) of America announced Thursday.

The FWAA has chosen a National Defensive Player of the Year since 1993. In 1995, the FWAA named the award in honor of the legendary two-way player from the University of Minnesota. Nagurski dominated college football, then became a star for professional football's Chicago Bears in the 1930s. Bronislaw "Bronko" Nagurski is a charter member of both the College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame.

Brown, a native of Canton, Ga., is one of just 26 players from a Group of Five conference school on the 103-man watch list. He finished seventh nationally last season with six interceptions, a mark that led the Sun Belt Conference.

His interceptions came in bunches as Brown picked off a pair of passes against both New Mexico State and Idaho in back-to-back games, while his final two interceptions came in consecutive contests against UMass and Appalachian State.

Brown also played a key part in Troy's victory in the Battle for the Belt with a forced a fumble on the final play of Troy's 28-21 victory at South Alabama. He finished the season with 34 tackles, 10 passes defended and seven turnovers forced.

The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce five finalists for the 2017 Bronko Nagurski Trophy on Thurs., Nov. 16. 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.

Coming off the best turnaround in the country, an Associated Press Top 25 ranking, the first 10-win season in the school's FBS history and a Dollar General Bowl title, Troy will be among the favorites in the Sun Belt Conference and the Group of Five with 17 starters and 54 lettermen returning from the 2016 squad.

Troy set single-season records last season for both overall attendance and per-game attendance. The Trojans once again have six home games in The Vet including in-state matchups with Alabama State and South Alabama.

Season ticket packages start at low as $60 for general admission seats and fans have multiple options to choose from including Family 4-Packs, Stadium Club and reserved seating.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit TroyTrojans.com/Tickets, call 877-878-WINS (9467), email Maria Moreno at mmoreno@troy.edu or visit the ticket office in person at Trojan Arena.

2017 Troy Players on Preseason Watch Lists
Brandon Silvers, QB                            Maxwell Award
Deontae Crumitie, OL                         Rimington Trophy
Blace Brown, CB                                 Bronko Nagurski Trophy

Troy University Athletics

Blace Brown Named to Bronko Nagurski Watch List

Players Mentioned

Blace Brown

Deontae Crumitie

Brandon Silvers

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