WEST POINT, N.Y. – Senior Linebacker Andrew King will head into his senior season tabbed one of the nation’s best defensive players.
On Friday, King was named to the 2016 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List that includes 88 defensive standouts from all 10 Division I FBS conferences. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is presented to the National Defensive Player of the Year by the Charlotte Touchdown Club and the Football Writers Association of America.
This was not King’s only acknowledgement this offseason, as he was also named to the Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List in May.
King returns to the Black Knights after a stellar junior campaign. He was among the leaders in the nation in tackles for loss from his middle linebacker position. He recorded 16.5 TFLs for a total of 68 yards, had a team-best 4.5 sacks and recovered two fumbles.
The Queen's Village, N.Y., native was voted a team captain along with fellow inside linebacker Jeremy Timpf. He is majoring in Law and Legal Studies at West Point.
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List was broken up by 31 backs, 29 linebackers, 21 ends and seven tackles.
Players may be added or removed from the watch list during the course of the season. Once again, the FWAA will announce a National Defensive Player of the Week from early September through mid November. If not already on the watch list, the honored player will be added at that time. The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce five finalists for the 2016 Bronko Nagurski Trophy on Thurs., Nov. 17.
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner will be chosen from those five finalists who are part of the 2016 FWAA All-America Team. The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the association's entire membership, selects a 26-man All-America Team and eventually the Nagurski Trophy finalists. Committee members, then by individual ballot, select the winner, the best defensive player in college football.
2016 BRONKO NAGURSKI TROPHY PRESEASON WATCH LIST
Linebackers (29)
Kendell Beckwith, LSU
Vince Biegel, Wisconsin
Ben Boulware, Clemson
Richie Brown, Mississippi State
Riley Bullough, Michigan State
Lorenzo Carter, Georgia
Zach Cunningham, Vanderbilt
Jarrad Davis, Florida
Salamo Fiso, Arizona State
Reuben Foster, Alabama
Travin Howard, TCU
Shane Huber, UMass
Malik Jefferson, Texas
Josey Jewell, Iowa
Andrew King, Army West Point
Micah Kiser, Virginia
Elijah Lee, Kansas State
Raekwon McMillan, Ohio State
Calvin Munson, San Diego State
Hardy Nickerson, Illinois
Jabrill Peppers, Michigan
Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Tennessee
TJ Ricks, Old Dominion
Cameron Smith, USC
Steven Taylor, Houston
Tanner Vallejo, Boise State
Azeem Victor, Washington
Anthony Walker, Northwestern
Tim Williams, Alabama
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