Jackson Named to Bronko Nagurski Trophy Preseason Watch List

DALLAS, TX. – Arkansas defensive lineman Landon Jackson has been named to the 2024 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List, the Football Writers Association of America announced on Tuesday morning.

The trophy is awarded annually to the best defensive player in college football. Jackson is one of 16 defensive ends to appear on the watch list, consisting of 75 defensive standouts from 56 schools in nine Division I FBS conferences plus Independents.

Jackson, who enters the 2024 campaign as a Walter Camp Football Foundation Preseason All-American and Preseason All-SEC selection, proved to be one of the nation’s most dominant pass rushers last season, tallying 44 total tackles, including 13.5 tackles for loss, with 6.5 sacks and one pass breakup during his junior campaign for the Razorbacks.

A native of Texarkana, Texas, Jackson became the first Arkansas defensive lineman since Jake Bequette in 2011 to earn First-Team All-SEC recognition after leading the Razorbacks in tackles for loss (13.5) and sacks (6.5). Jackson had a breakout performance at Alabama last season, registering a career-high in tackles (11), tackles for loss (3.5) and sacks (3.5) to claim SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week and Bednarik Award Player of the Week honors. Jackson’s 3.5 sacks were the most by an SEC player in a single game last season and tied for the fifth-most in a single game nationally.

The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce finalists for the 2024 trophy on Nov. 20 before the winner will be unveiled on Dec. 9 at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet in Charlotte, N.C.

Players may be added or removed from the watch list during the course of the season. As in previous years, the FWAA will announce a National Defensive Player of the Week each Tuesday this season. If not already on the watch list, each week’s honored player will be added at that time.