AUBURN, Ala. – Another day, another watch list for Auburn defenders Zakoby McClain and Smoke Monday.
The seniors are among 90 standouts on the 2021 Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list, the Football Writers Association of America announced Tuesday.
On Monday, McClain was named to the Butkus Award watch list while Monday earned recognition on the Jim Thorpe Award watch list.
Auburn senior center Nick Brahms was named Monday to the Outland Trophy, given annually to the nation's top interior lineman.
The Nagurksi Trophy watch list represents players from 61 schools in all 10 Division I FBS conferences plus independents on a roster that includes seven returning players from last season's FWAA All-America team, another from the 2019 team, the nation's top four tacklers from a year ago, three of the top seven sack leaders and one of the interception leaders.
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner will be chosen from those five finalists and honored at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet presented by LendingTree on Dec. 6 at the Charlotte Convention Center. 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.
The top four total tackles leaders from 2020, each of them a linebacker, also highlight the list. Auburn's McClain and Carlton Martial of Troy each claimed the title with 113 total tackles each, with Arkansas' Grant Morgan (111) and N.C. State's Payton Wilson (108) just behind. McClain and Morgan are the returning leaders of the 20-player SEC contingent that is spread among nine schools.
Auburn is one of six SEC schools with at least two players on the list.
This year's watch list includes at least four players from all 10 FBS conferences plus five from the independent schools. The SEC led the conference list with 20 with the Big Ten (13) and Big 12 (11) just behind, making up half of the list. The list includes 29 linebackers, 22 backs, 22 ends and 17 tackles.
The Football Writers Association of America has announced the preseason watch list for the 2021 Outland Trophy, recognizing 80 returning standout interior linemen representing all 10 Division I FBS conferences and independents. The 2021 season continues a celebration of the award's 75th anniversary and the watch list presents a talented field of players to accompany three returning FWAA All-Americans.
The recipient of the 2021 Outland Trophy will be announced on The Home Depot College Football Awards, live on ESPN in December. The official presentation to the winner will be made at the Outland Trophy Awards Dinner sponsored by Werner Enterprises and produced by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee in Omaha, Neb., on Jan. 12, 2022.
Brahms is one of 11 SEC players from seven schools on the Outland Trophy watch list, which includes 26 offensive tackles, 26 guards, 16 centers and 13 defensive tackles.
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer