The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Moll and Smith Earn Spot on Bronko Nagurski Preseason Watch List
7/21/2020 12:00:00 PM | Football
BIRMINGHAM – The Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), in conjunction with the Charlotte Touchdown Club, have named senior linebacker Kristopher Moll and junior edge rusher Jordan Smith to the Bronko Nagurski Award Preseason Watch List, presented to the nation's most outstanding defensive player.
This is the second national list Moll and Smith have been named to, as each landed on the Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List last week, given to the nation's top defensive player by the Maxwell Football Club.
Moll and Smith are two of 98 players on the Nagurski preseason watch list and two of just seven players from Conference USA. UAB is the only school in C-USA and one of 18 teams nationally to have multiple players on the Nagurski Watch List.
These two were the catalysts for UAB finishing eighth nationally in total defense in 2019, and will once again lead a unit that returns nine starters this season.
Moll was a First Team All-Conference USA selection last year and was the only player in C-USA to rank top 10 in tackles, tackles for loss and sacks per game.
Despite missing the first game, Moll finished with 104 total tackles, 16.0 TFL, 9.0 sacks, four forced fumbles, six quarterback hurries, one interception, one fumble recovery and one pass breakup.
Smith erupted onto the scene last year, finishing with 53 tackles, 17.5 TFL, 10.0 sacks, four forced fumbles and eight quarterback hurries. He earned Second Team All-Conference USA honors while finishing third in the league in sacks per game (0.71) and fifth in TFL per game (1.25). His 10 sacks were the fifth most in a season at UAB.
The winner of the 2020 Bronko Nagurski Trophy presented by LendingTree as the National Defensive Player of the Year will be chosen from five finalists. The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the association's full membership, selects a 26-man All-America Team and eventually the Nagurski Trophy finalists. Committee members, by individual ballot, select the winner they regard as the best defensive player in college football.
The Blazers return 18 starters to a team that won the second most games in program history last year (9). UAB looks to win its third straight C-USA West Division title in 2020 and its second overall championship in the last three years.
Since returning to action in 2017, UAB has tallied 28 total victories, the most of any team in Conference USA. The Blazers are also 18-0 at Legion Field and bring the nation's fourth longest active home winning streak into the 2020 season.
Season tickets for 2020 are on sale starting as low as $75 with the Family Four Pack. Blazer Boosters members and current season ticket holders will have top priority for Protective Stadium entering 2021. Click here to purchase season tickets.
UAB National Watch Lists:
Kristopher Moll – Chuck Bednarik Award – Nation's Most Outstanding Defensive Player (MFC)
Jordan Smith – Chuck Bednarik Award – Nation's Most Outstanding Defensive Player (MFC)
Spencer Brown – Doak Walker Award – Nation's Top College Running Back
Austin Watkins Jr. – Biletnikoff Award – Nation's Most Outstanding Receiver
Brontae Harris – Paycom Jim Thorpe Award – Nation's Best Defensive Back
Kristopher Moll – Bronko Nagurski Award – Nation's Most Outstanding Defensive Player (FWAA)
Jordan Smith – Bronko Nagurski Award – Nation's Most Outstanding Defensive Player (FWAA)
This is the second national list Moll and Smith have been named to, as each landed on the Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List last week, given to the nation's top defensive player by the Maxwell Football Club.
Moll and Smith are two of 98 players on the Nagurski preseason watch list and two of just seven players from Conference USA. UAB is the only school in C-USA and one of 18 teams nationally to have multiple players on the Nagurski Watch List.
These two were the catalysts for UAB finishing eighth nationally in total defense in 2019, and will once again lead a unit that returns nine starters this season.
Moll was a First Team All-Conference USA selection last year and was the only player in C-USA to rank top 10 in tackles, tackles for loss and sacks per game.
Despite missing the first game, Moll finished with 104 total tackles, 16.0 TFL, 9.0 sacks, four forced fumbles, six quarterback hurries, one interception, one fumble recovery and one pass breakup.
Smith erupted onto the scene last year, finishing with 53 tackles, 17.5 TFL, 10.0 sacks, four forced fumbles and eight quarterback hurries. He earned Second Team All-Conference USA honors while finishing third in the league in sacks per game (0.71) and fifth in TFL per game (1.25). His 10 sacks were the fifth most in a season at UAB.
The winner of the 2020 Bronko Nagurski Trophy presented by LendingTree as the National Defensive Player of the Year will be chosen from five finalists. The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the association's full membership, selects a 26-man All-America Team and eventually the Nagurski Trophy finalists. Committee members, by individual ballot, select the winner they regard as the best defensive player in college football.
The Blazers return 18 starters to a team that won the second most games in program history last year (9). UAB looks to win its third straight C-USA West Division title in 2020 and its second overall championship in the last three years.
Since returning to action in 2017, UAB has tallied 28 total victories, the most of any team in Conference USA. The Blazers are also 18-0 at Legion Field and bring the nation's fourth longest active home winning streak into the 2020 season.
Season tickets for 2020 are on sale starting as low as $75 with the Family Four Pack. Blazer Boosters members and current season ticket holders will have top priority for Protective Stadium entering 2021. Click here to purchase season tickets.
UAB National Watch Lists:
Kristopher Moll – Chuck Bednarik Award – Nation's Most Outstanding Defensive Player (MFC)
Jordan Smith – Chuck Bednarik Award – Nation's Most Outstanding Defensive Player (MFC)
Spencer Brown – Doak Walker Award – Nation's Top College Running Back
Austin Watkins Jr. – Biletnikoff Award – Nation's Most Outstanding Receiver
Brontae Harris – Paycom Jim Thorpe Award – Nation's Best Defensive Back
Kristopher Moll – Bronko Nagurski Award – Nation's Most Outstanding Defensive Player (FWAA)
Jordan Smith – Bronko Nagurski Award – Nation's Most Outstanding Defensive Player (FWAA)
Players Mentioned
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