Jackson earns spot on Nagurski watch list

Sophomore linebacker Andrew Jackson tackles Louisana-Lafayette’s Harry Peoples during the second half of WKU’s 42-23 win over Louisana-Lafayette on Saturday night. It was WKU’s first home win since 2008.

Lucas Aulbach

Another Topper has been named to a preseason award watch list, this time on the defensive side of the ball.

Junior linebacker Andrew Jackson has been selected as one of 84 players from around the nation as a candidate for the Bronco Nagurski Trophy, an award given annually to college football’s top defensive player.

Jackson, the only representative of the Sun Belt Conference, was a catalyst for the WKU defense last year.

He led the team with 109 total tackles and 17 tackles for a loss, a figure which was also the highest in the Sun Belt.

He led the Toppers in total tackles in eight games last season.

Jackson can add the Nagurski watch list selection to his growing list of preseason honors. He was also named as a preseason first-team all-conference member in several college football publications.

Other notable players on the Nagurski watch list include LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu, Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o and Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones.

Past Nagurski winners include Miami’s Warren Sapp, Michigan’s Charles Woodson and Nebraska’s Ndamukong Suh.