Aug. 25, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Junior linebacker Navorro Bowman (District Heights, Md.), senior linebacker Sean Lee (Pittsburgh) and senior defensive tackle Jared Odrick (Lebanon) have been selected to the 2009 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List. The award, which is presented by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and the Charlotte Touchdown Club, honors the nation's best defensive player.
Penn State is one of just four teams to have three players named to the initial list, which numbers 62, and is the only Big Ten team to have multiple players recognized. Bowman, Lee, and Odrick have also been named to the Rotary Lombardi and Bednarik Award Watch Lists.
Bowman and Odrick were major factors on a Penn State defense that earned a top 10 national ranking in three of four defensive categories in 2008. A first team All-Big Ten honoree last season, Bowman led the Nittany Lions in total tackles (106), solo tackles (61), and assisted tackles (45) and was second in tackles for loss (16.5) and third on the team in sacks (4.0). He has been tabbed preseason second team All-America by Athlon and Sporting News.
Odrick started 11 of 13 games in 2008, totaling 41 tackles, with 9.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and three pass break-ups. He has also been nominated for the Outland Trophy.
Lee, a team co-captain, has made a successful return to the line-up after being sidelined for the 2008 season with a knee injury. As a junior in 2007, Lee established himself as one of the nation's top linebackers, finishing second in the Big Ten in tackles with 138. He has been selected to Phil Steele's and Sporting News' preseason All-Big Ten first team.
Former Nittany Lion All-American defensive end Tamba Hali was a finalist for the 2005 Nagurski Trophy and former All-Americans LaVar Arrington and Courtney Brown were among the finalists for the 1999 honor. Maurice Evans was named to the Nagurski Watch List last season.
The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce five finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy on November 18 or 19. The 2009 winner is scheduled to be announced on Dec. 7.
The trophy has been presented since 1993 and is awarded in memory of the legendary Bronko Nagurski, an All-America lineman at Minnesota (1927-29) and a star for professional football's Chicago Bears in the 1930's.
Coach Joe Paterno's No. 8 Nittany Lions are continuing preparations for their season opening match-up with Akron, scheduled for a 12:00 p.m. kickoff on Sept. 5. The game will air on the Big Ten Network, the Penn State Sports Network and www.GoPSUsports.com.