Anthony Walker Jr. is primed for one heck of a junior season, but can he be the best defensive player in college football?
Pat Fitzgerald was back in 1995 and 1996, when he was presented with the Bronko Nagurski Trophy in back-to-back seasons. Fitzgerald now coaches Walker, who was included on the preseason watch list for this year's Nagurski Trophy when it was released on Friday.
Walker was one of 13 players from Big Ten teams on the list, but he should definitely be among the conference's favorites for the award. Last season, Walker earned All-Big Ten First Team honors and was an AP Third Team All-American, leading Northwestern with 122 tackles and 20.5 tackles for loss. Those 20.5 tackles for loss were the most in the Big Ten and ranked second in the country.
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If Walker were to win, he'd join Fitzgerald as the only Northwestern players to win the award. Fitzgerald is the only player to ever win the award twice.
Twelve other players from the Big Ten landed on this year's watch list: Wisconsin linebacker Vince Biegel, Michigan State linebacker Riley Bullough, Iowa linebacker Josey Jewell, Iowa defensive back Desmond King, Michigan defensive back Jourdan Lewis, Ohio State defensive lineman Tyquan Lewis, Maryland defensive back Will Likely, Michigan State defensive lineman Malik McDowell, Ohio State linebacker Raekwon McMillan, Illinois linebacker Hardy Nickerson, Michigan defensive back Jabrill Peppers and Michigan defensive lineman Chris Wormley.
Only two Big Ten players have won the Nagurski Trophy since Fitzgerald's second victory in 1996: Michigan's Charles Woodson in 1997 and Ohio State's James Laurinaitis in 2006. Nebraska's Ndamukong Suh won in 2009, before the Huskers joined the Big Ten.