Dowling, Jackson named to preseason awards lists

Lucas Aulbach

Senior linebacker Andrew Jackson and junior safety Jonathan Dowling have added their names to the growing list of WKU players to receive preseason honors.

Dowling was named to the watch list for the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation’s top defensive back each year.

Jackson, meanwhile, has earned a spot on the Bronko Nagurski Award watch list. The Bronko Nagurski Award is given to the top defensive player in the NCAA each year.

Dowling and Jackson were two of the most important pieces of the WKU defense last season.

Jackson, one of 81 players to be named to the watch list, finished last season with a team-leading 122 tackles and four forced fumbles.

Dowling, meanwhile, was a driving force for the Topper secondary in his first year at WKU. He intercepted six passes on the year and finished with 68 tackles.

Both players figure to be on the field when WKU opens its season against Kentucky on August 31.