Temple University Athletics
Chandler Named to Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List
7.13.17 | Football
PHILADELPHIA - The Football Writers Association of American (FWAA) and the Charlotte Touchdown Club today announced its watch list for the 2017 Bronko Nagurski Trophy, given to the nation's best defensive player, and Temple's defensive back Sean Chandler is among those players.
Chandler hopes to become the second Temple player to win the prestigious Bronko Nagurski Award. Linebacker Tyler Matakevich, now a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, won the award in 2015.
The Camden, N.J. native is a two-time All-American Athletic Conference second-team selection (2015-16) and an ECAC first team All-Star in 2016. He enters 2017 with seven career interceptions, 12th all-time in school history, and is the team's active leader with 186 career tackles and three fumble recoveries. Chandler is also the only Owl freshman ever awarded the prestigious single-digit jersey, given to one of the nine toughest players each season.
This is the third watch list that Chandler has made this preseason. He already has a spot on the Chuck Bednarik Award and Lott IMPACT Award lists. Joining Chandler on the preseason watch lists are Temple kicker Aaron Boumerhi (Lou Groza Award) and center Matt Hennessy (Rimington Award).
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The FWAA has chosen a National Defensive Player of the Year since 1993. In 1995, the FWAA named the award in honor of the legendary two-way player from the University of Minnesota. Nagurski dominated college football, then became a star for professional football's Chicago Bears in the 1930s. Bronislaw "Bronko" Nagurski is a charter member of both the College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame.
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football's most prestigious awards. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 23 awards now boast over 800 recipients, dating to 1935.
The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce five finalists for the 2017 Bronko Nagurski Trophy on November 16. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner will be chosen from those five finalists. Committee members, by individual ballot, select the winner they regard as the best defensive player in college football. The annual Bronko Nagurski Trophy Banquet, presented by ACN, will be held on December 4 at the Charlotte Convention Center.
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The Owls are coming off back-to-back 10-win seasons in which they were ranked among the Top 25 in both 2015 and 2016. Temple is one of 13 FBS schools to win 10-or-more games in each of the past two seasons and one of five (Alabama, Clemson, San Diego State, Western Kentucky) to accomplish that feat while also playing in its Conference Championship game in each season.
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Chandler hopes to become the second Temple player to win the prestigious Bronko Nagurski Award. Linebacker Tyler Matakevich, now a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, won the award in 2015.
The Camden, N.J. native is a two-time All-American Athletic Conference second-team selection (2015-16) and an ECAC first team All-Star in 2016. He enters 2017 with seven career interceptions, 12th all-time in school history, and is the team's active leader with 186 career tackles and three fumble recoveries. Chandler is also the only Owl freshman ever awarded the prestigious single-digit jersey, given to one of the nine toughest players each season.
This is the third watch list that Chandler has made this preseason. He already has a spot on the Chuck Bednarik Award and Lott IMPACT Award lists. Joining Chandler on the preseason watch lists are Temple kicker Aaron Boumerhi (Lou Groza Award) and center Matt Hennessy (Rimington Award).
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The FWAA has chosen a National Defensive Player of the Year since 1993. In 1995, the FWAA named the award in honor of the legendary two-way player from the University of Minnesota. Nagurski dominated college football, then became a star for professional football's Chicago Bears in the 1930s. Bronislaw "Bronko" Nagurski is a charter member of both the College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame.
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football's most prestigious awards. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 23 awards now boast over 800 recipients, dating to 1935.
The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce five finalists for the 2017 Bronko Nagurski Trophy on November 16. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner will be chosen from those five finalists. Committee members, by individual ballot, select the winner they regard as the best defensive player in college football. The annual Bronko Nagurski Trophy Banquet, presented by ACN, will be held on December 4 at the Charlotte Convention Center.
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The Owls are coming off back-to-back 10-win seasons in which they were ranked among the Top 25 in both 2015 and 2016. Temple is one of 13 FBS schools to win 10-or-more games in each of the past two seasons and one of five (Alabama, Clemson, San Diego State, Western Kentucky) to accomplish that feat while also playing in its Conference Championship game in each season.
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