Sturdivant named to Nagurski Trophy list

[PonyPride]

Sturdivant Named To Nagurski Trophy Watch List
Senior One Of 58 On Preseason List
June 9, 2006

DALLAS (SMU) - SMU senior Joe Sturdivant is among 58 players on the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List for the 2006 season, the Football Writers Association of America announced today.

The Bronko Nagurski Trophy, awarded to the best defensive player in college football, has been a staple of the FWAA's awards since 1993. It is sponsored by the Charlotte Touchdown Club, which has held the annual awards banquet since 1995.

Sturdivant, who has started games in each of his first three seasons on the Hilltop, was SMU's Defensive Co-MVP along with Rolando Humphrey and Justin Rogers in 2005. He was a second-team All-C-USA honoree and was twice named the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week - becoming the only defensive player in the league to win the honor multiple times in 2005. He led the Mustangs in tackles and pass breakups and ranked first in passes defended (14) and was fourth in stops (112) in Conference USA. His 112 tackles were 33 more than his closest teammate, and he had nine or more tackles in nine games. He has previously been tabbed a pre-season All-Conference USA performer by Blue Ribbon College Football and was a first-team pick on Dave Campbell's Texas Football's All-Texas College Team.

The 2006 banquet is set for Monday, Dec. 4, at the Westin Hotel in Charlotte, where five finalists will vie for the prize. Louisville defensive end Elvis Dumervil won the 2005 Bronko Nagurski Trophy.

The FWAA All-America Committee selects the Bronko Nagurski winner from the association's 11-man All-America defensive team in late November. Players may be added from the Bronko Nagurski Watch List during the course of the 2006 season.

For the sixth straight season, the FWAA will select Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Players of the Week, beginning with games the week of Sept. 2 and running through the middle of November. Each national player of the week will be added to the trophy's watch list throughout the
season.

[Water Pony]

Yeah, baby! Austin Powers

[smu diamond m]

Congrats to Joe. Hopefully he plays godly this year so there is no question about who wins.

[HorsePower]

Congrats. He's a terrific player who deserves every honor that comes his way.
Way to go, Joe!

[The PonyGrad]

Let's hope the great stats come from things like ints and pbus. Too many tackles may mean the D is not doing what it needs to.

In any case we are fortunate he is back there.