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Christopher Boan writes for BetTennessee.com and has been covering sports and sports betting for more than seven years, with experience at ArizonaSports.com, the Tucson Weekly and the Green Valley News.
Bronko Nagurski Award Watch List: Odds For Best Defensive Player of 2024-25 College Football Season
More than halfway into the 2024 college football season, it’s becoming more apparent by the week which stars on both sides of the ball have the best shot at taking home top honors at their respective positions.
On defense, it appears that the top honor given out to players on that side of the ball (the Bronko Nagurski Award) is likely to go to a player from the Midwest, with stars from Iowa, Notre Dame and Ohio State all looking likely to win the honor in 2024.
Whether it be a hardnosed linebacker like Hawkeyes fifth-year senior Jay Higgins or veteran safeties like Xavier Watts of the Fighting Irish or Caleb Downs of the Buckeyes, there’s no doubt that the Midwest knows ball, with a host of talented defensive players coming from the Big Ten and independent ranks this season
BetTennessee.com – where you’ll find the best Tennessee sportsbook promo codes upon signing up – wanted to get a sense for which players could take home this year’s Bronko Nagurski Award.
Also of interest: Tennessee Vols vs. Alabama Odds: Who Is Favored to Win in CFB Week 8?
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2024-25 Bronko Nagurski Award (Best Defensive Player) Winner Odds
Player | College | Odds | Percentage Chance |
Jay Higgins (LB) | Iowa | +900 | 10.0% |
Xavier Watts (S) | Notre Dame | +1000 | 9.1% |
Caleb Downs (S) | Ohio State | +1000 | 9.1% |
Kyle Kennard (DL) | South Carolina | +1100 | 8.3% |
Nic Scourton (DL) | Texas A&M | +1100 | 8.3% |
Shaun Dolac (LB) | Buffalo | +1200 | 7.7% |
Jackson Woodard (LB) | UNLV | +1200 | 7.7% |
Travis Hunter (CB) | Colorado | +1500 | 6.3% |
Donovan Ezeiruaku (DL) | Boston College | +1500 | 6.3% |
Mason Graham (DL) | Michigan | +1500 | 6.3% |
Abdul Carter (DL) | Penn State | +1500 | 6.3% |
The Field | - | +500 | 16.7% |
These odds are exclusive to BetTennessee.com, though Tennessee betting apps have many other ways to wager on college football.
Who Will Win Bronko Nagurski Award in 2024?
Right now, our hypothetical leader in the Nagurski Award clubhouse is Higgins at +900, thanks in large part to the redshirt senior’s 62 tackles, two interceptions and two forced fumbles this season. Throw in Watts, who won the Nagurski Award in 2023, and Downs (both of whom are listed at +1000) and the defensive linemen duo of Kyle Kennard of South Carolina and Nic Scourton of Texas A&M at +1100 apiece and you have the upper end of the latest Nagurski Award list.
Among the longshots to keep an eye on entering Week 8 of the college football season are Shaun Dolac of Buffalo and Jackson Woodard of UNLV, with both linebackers listed at +1200, while Heisman Trophy hotshot Travis Hunter of Colorado, Michigan defensive lineman Mason Graham, Penn State DL Abdul Carter and Boston College DL Donovan Ezeiruaku all listed at +1500 to win the award right now.
While always a longshot, Tennessee DE James Pearce (pictured above) for now has fallen off our board a little over halfway through the CFB regular season. See our Tennessee Volunteers football odds for more on the Vols.
USA Today Network photo by Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel
Bronko Nagurski Award FAQ
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is awarded annually to the best defensive player in college football, essentially the defensive equivalent of the Heisman Trophy. It is awarded by The Football Writers Association of America.
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is presented to the winner by the Charlotte Touchdown Club and the award banquet and ceremony is held in Charlotte, North Carolina. The 2023 Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet was held Dec. 4, 2023.
The 2023 Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner was safety Xavier Watts from Notre Dame, who makes an appearance on the 2024 Bronko Nagurski preseason watch list. The first award watch list was released with 75 players as candidates going into the 2024 season.
