Texas Tech University Athletics
Hunter, Rodriguez named to Nagurski Trophy watch list
July 29, 2025 | Football
DALLAS – The Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) released its 2025 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List on Tuesday, selecting two Red Raiders – defensive tackle Lee Hunter and linebacker Jacob Rodriguez – among 60 defensive standout players across the FBS. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is presented to the nation's most outstanding defensive player by the Charlotte Touchdown Club.
Texas Tech is one 12 FBS programs with multiple players selected to 2025 Nagurski Trophy watch list, joining Alabama (3), Clemson (3), Georgia (4), Illinois (2), Indiana (3), Iowa State (2), Notre Dame (2), Ohio State (2), Oregon (3), Penn State (2) and Texas (3). The list contains players from 41 different schools in eight Division I FBS conferences plus Independents.
The SEC (18) topped the watch list with the most selections, followed by the Big Ten (14). The Big 12 has 10 total selections, led by Texas Tech and Iowa State each with a pair, followed by the ACC (7), Mountain West (3) and Sun Belt (3), American and Independents (2) and the Mid-American (1).
Hunter and Rodriguez represent two of the three Red Raiders selected to the Preseason All-Big 12 Football Team on July 7. Additionally, Rodriguez was tabbed the Big 12 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
Hunter, expected to be an impact transfer, was rated by ESPN as the No. 2-ranked defensive tackle from the transfer portal and No. 20 portal prospect overall. A season ago, he finished his junior year at UCF as an All-Big 12 second team selection after being credited by Pro Football Focus with 27 total pressures (of the pass of any kind), which ranked second among interior linemen in the Big 12.
Meanwhile, Rodriguez is the Big 12's top returning tackler and was third nationally in solo tackles last season with 77 and 12th in total tackles (9.8 pg). His 127 total tackles marked the most tackles by a Red Raider in a single season since Lawrence Flugence set an NCAA FBS record with 193 stops in 2002.
The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce four finalists for the 2025 Bronko Nagurski Trophy in mid-to-late November, and the winner will be revealed at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet on Dec. 8 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 Bronko Nagurski 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.
NCFAA WATCH LISTS
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football's most prestigious awards. Sixteen NCFAA members are unveiling preseason watch lists over a two-week-plus period as the association spearheads a coordinated effort to promote each award's preseason candidates.
The following is the 2025 preseason watch list calendar:
- TECH -
Texas Tech is one 12 FBS programs with multiple players selected to 2025 Nagurski Trophy watch list, joining Alabama (3), Clemson (3), Georgia (4), Illinois (2), Indiana (3), Iowa State (2), Notre Dame (2), Ohio State (2), Oregon (3), Penn State (2) and Texas (3). The list contains players from 41 different schools in eight Division I FBS conferences plus Independents.
The SEC (18) topped the watch list with the most selections, followed by the Big Ten (14). The Big 12 has 10 total selections, led by Texas Tech and Iowa State each with a pair, followed by the ACC (7), Mountain West (3) and Sun Belt (3), American and Independents (2) and the Mid-American (1).
Hunter and Rodriguez represent two of the three Red Raiders selected to the Preseason All-Big 12 Football Team on July 7. Additionally, Rodriguez was tabbed the Big 12 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
Hunter, expected to be an impact transfer, was rated by ESPN as the No. 2-ranked defensive tackle from the transfer portal and No. 20 portal prospect overall. A season ago, he finished his junior year at UCF as an All-Big 12 second team selection after being credited by Pro Football Focus with 27 total pressures (of the pass of any kind), which ranked second among interior linemen in the Big 12.
Meanwhile, Rodriguez is the Big 12's top returning tackler and was third nationally in solo tackles last season with 77 and 12th in total tackles (9.8 pg). His 127 total tackles marked the most tackles by a Red Raider in a single season since Lawrence Flugence set an NCAA FBS record with 193 stops in 2002.
The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce four finalists for the 2025 Bronko Nagurski Trophy in mid-to-late November, and the winner will be revealed at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet on Dec. 8 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 Bronko Nagurski 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.
NCFAA WATCH LISTS
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football's most prestigious awards. Sixteen NCFAA members are unveiling preseason watch lists over a two-week-plus period as the association spearheads a coordinated effort to promote each award's preseason candidates.
The following is the 2025 preseason watch list calendar:
- Mon., July 28: Maxwell Award
- Tue., July 29: Outland Trophy/Bronko Nagurski Trophy
- Wed., July 30: Paycom Jim Thorpe Award/Butkus Award
- Thu., July 31: Paul Hornung Award/Allstate Wuerffel Trophy
- Fri., Aug. 1: Lou Groza Award/Ray Guy Award
- Mon., Aug. 4: Walter Camp Award
- Tue., Aug. 5: Doak Walker Award
- Wed., Aug. 6: Biletnikoff Award
- Thu., Aug. 7: Davey O'Brien Award
- Fri., Aug. 8: Mackey Award/Rimington Trophy
- Mon., Aug. 11: Bednarik Award
- TECH -
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