Preseason watch list unveiled for the 2022 Bronko Nagurski Trophy

The Football Writers Association of America released its 2022 preseason watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy on Tuesday.

The 85-man list includes 25 linebackers, 18 safeties, 17 defensive ends, 13 cornerbacks, and 12 defensive tackles. The award is presented annually to the best defensive player in the country.

As such, the SEC dominated the selections with 14, the most among the Power Five conferences. The ACC, Big Ten, and Big 12 each had 10 while the Pac-12 had just eight. Oregon and Utah each had multiple selections while Oregon State, Stanford, USC, and Washington State placed individuals on the list.

The group from the Pac-12:

DE Brandon Dorlus, Oregon
LB Noah Sewell, Oregon
LB Omar Speights, Oregon State
CB Kyu Blu Kelly, Stanford
DT Tuli Tuipulotu, USC
DT Junior Tafuna, Utah
CB Clark Phillips III, Utah
DE Ron Stone Jr., Washington State

Players may be added or removed from the watch list during the course of the season based on play. The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce the three finalists for the 2022 trophy on Nov. 16. The winner will be revealed on Dec. 5 at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet in Charlotte, N.C.

You can view the full list of names below:

LB Vince Sanford, Air Force
LB Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
LB Henry To’oto’o, Alabama
CB Eli Ricks, Alabama
S Jordan Battle, Alabama
CB Steven Jones Jr., App State
LB Bumper Pool, Arkansas
S Jalen Catalon, Arkansas
LB Andre Carter, Army
DE Derick, Hall, Auburn
DT Siaki Ika, Baylor
LB Dillon Doyle, Baylor
S JL Skinner, Boise State
LB Darren Anders, Bowling Green
LB James Patterson, Buffalo
LB Payton Wilgar, BYU
LB Deshawn Pace, Cincinnati
LB Ivan Pace, Cincinnati
DT Bryan Bresee, Clemson
DE Myles Murphy, Clemson
LB Trenton Simpson, Clemson
DE Josiah Stewart, Coastal Carolina
CB D’Jordan Strong, Coastal Carolina
S Jammie Robinson, Florida State
S Evan Williams, Fresno State
DT Jalen Carter, Georgia
LB Nolan Smith, Georgia
CB Kelee Ringo, Georgia
S Antavioius Lane, Georgia State
S Gervarrius Owens, Houston
LB Jack Campbell, Iowa
CB Riley Moss, Iowa
DE Will McDonald IV, Iowa State
DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas State
DE B.J. Ojulari, LSU
S Quindell Johnson, Memphis
DT Leonard Taylor, Miami
S Xavier Henderson, Michigan State
CB Emmanuel Forbes, Mississippi State
LB Drake Thomas, N.C. State
S Tanner Ingle, N.C. State
DE Ochaun Mathis, Nebraska
DT Myles Murphy, North Carolina
LB KD Davis, North Texas
S CJ Brown, Northern Illinois
DE Isaiah Foskey, Notre Dame
S Brandon Joseph, Notre Dame
DE Zach Harrison, Ohio State
S Ronnie Hickman, Ohio State
DE Brock Martin, Oklahoma State
DE Collin Oliver, Oklahoma State
DE Brandon Dorlus, Oregon
LB Noah Sewell, Oregon
LB Omar Speights, Oregon State
DT PJ Mustipher, Penn State
CB Joey Porter, Penn State
DT Calijah Kancey, Pitt
LB Caden McDonald, San Diego State
S Patrick McMorris, San Diego State
DE Viliami Fehoko, San Jose State
LB Kyle Harmon, San Jose State
DT Elijah Chatman, SMU
CB Darrell Luter Jr., South Alabama
CB Cam Smith, South Carolina
LB Antonio Grier, South Florida
CB Kyu Blu Kelly, Stanford
LB Mikel Jones, Syracuse
CB Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, TCU
LB DeMarvion Overshown, Texas
S Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M
DE Jamal Hines, Toledo
DE Javon Solomon, Troy
LB Carlton Martial, Troy
S Grayson Cash, UAB
S Divaad Wilson, UCF
DT Tuli Tuipulotu, USC
DT Junior Tafuna, Utah
CB Clark Phillips, Utah
DE Praise Amaewhule, UTEP
S Rashad Wisdom, UTSA
DE Ron Stone Jr., Washington State
DT Dante Stills, West Virginia
CB Charles Woods, West Virginia
DT Keeanu Benton, Wisconsin
LB Nick Herbig, Wisconsin