Hawkeye Fan Shop — A Black & Gold Store | 24 Hawkeyes to Watch – 2017-18 | Hawk Talk Monthly — May 2018 | Fight For Iowa
IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa junior defensive end Anthony Nelson has been named to the 2018 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List.
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is presented annually to the nation’s most outstanding defensive player by the Charlotte Touchdown Club and the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA). Former Iowa linebacker Josey Jewell was a finalist for the award in 2017.
A year ago, Nelson (6-foot-7, 271-pounds) started all 13 games and recorded a team-leading and career-high 7.5 sacks to earn third-team All-Big Ten honors. The Urbandale, Iowa, native totaled 41 tackles, including 9.5 for loss, while also recording four pass break-ups, two forced fumbles, and a blocked field goal. His fourth-quarter strip sack against Boston College quarterback Darius Wade ultimately led to Iowa’s game-winning touchdown in the Pinstripe Bowl.
Earlier this summer, Nelson was named one of 42 candidates for the Lott IMPACT Trophy, an award Jewell won in 2017, and was named to the Bednarik Award watch list. Nelson, who was named to Iowa’s 2018 Leadership Group, is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, a first-team Academic All-American, and was most recently honored as a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar.
The FWAA will announce a Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week throughout the season and, in conjunction with the Charlotte Touchdown Club, announce five finalists for the 2018 Bronko Nagurski Trophy on Nov. 14. The winner will be announced Dec. 3 at the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Banquet inside the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Nelson and the Hawkeyes begin their season against Northern Illinois on Sept. 1. For ticket information visit hawkeyesports.com/fightforiowa.
