TCU Football: Newton Named To 2023 Nagurski Trophy Watch List

This annual award is presented to the nation’s top defensive player

Josh Newton, a TCU football cornerback, has been named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list.

The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is awarded annually to the best defensive player in college football and is presented by the Charlotte Touchdown Club. The award was created in 1993 to complement the Heisman Trophy Award, which had never been presented to a defensive player at that time. It is named after Bronislau “Bronko” Nagurski, a tackle, fullback, defensive end, offensive lineman, linebacker, and passer. He played for the University of Minnesota from 1927-1929 and the Chicago Bears in the NFL.

TCU legend Jerry Hughes was a two-time Bronko Nagurski Trophy finalist in 2008 and 2009. Hughes begins his 14th season in the NFL and his first with the Houston Texans.

Last year’s award went to Will Anderson, Jr. of Alabama, who also won in 2021. Other Big 12 players on this year’s watch list include Cobee Bryant (Kansas, cornerback), Dontay Corleone (Cincinnati, defensive tackle), Jaylan Ford (Texas, linebacker), Gabe Hall (Baylor, defensive end), Jaylon Hutchings (Texas Tech, defensive tackle), Jason Johnson (UCF, linebacker), Collin Oliver (Oklahoma State, defensive end), Kobe Savage (Kansas State, safety), Danny Stutsman (Oklahoma, linebacker), and TJ Tampa (Iowa State, cornerback).

A total of 94 defensive players representing 69 schools in all ten Division I FBS conferences and independents were named to this year’s preseason watch list. For the complete watch list, click here.

Newton was First-Team All-Big 12 in his first season as a Horned Frog in 2022, playing a key role as TCU reached the College Football Playoff National Championship.

Pro Football Focus rated Newton's 81.9 grade as the best among TCU cornerbacks last season. PFF also had him fourth among Power Five cornerbacks with a 35.3 percent completion rate allowed and as the third-most valuable returning Power Five corner, per its wins above average metric.

Starting all 15 games, Newton ranked second on TCU and in the Big 12 with 12 pass breakups, trailing only teammate and 2022 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award winner Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson (15). Newton tied for second on the Horned Frogs with three interceptions, including one returned 57 yards for a touchdown in a win over Iowa State. He totaled 35 stops on the year, including a tackle for loss at Colorado on the season’s opening play and his first snap as a Horned Frog.

Newton's 47 career starts tie for the most among active players in college football.

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