Sports Headlines

Andrew Jackson Represents WKU on 2012 Bronko Nagurski Trophy WatchList

Posted: 7:07 PM Jul 12, 2012
Reporter: Chris Glowacki - WKU Athletic Media Relations

Bowling Green, Ky. — For the second time this week, a member of the Western Kentucky University football team has been selected to a preseason watch list for a National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) trophy. On Thursday, junior linebacker Andrew Jackson was listed among the top defensive players in the country as a candidate for the 2012 Bronko Nagurski Trophy.

A total of 84 players made the preseason list for the Nagurski Trophy — awarded annually to the nation’s best defensive player by the Football Writers Association of America and the Charlotte Touchdown Club. Jackson was one of 30 linebackers on the list, the most of any defensive position group.

Jackson — the only Sun Belt Conference players on the list — earned first-team all-league honors in 2011 after recording 109 tackles in his first season on the field for WKU. His 9.1 tackles per game ranked third in the league, and 39th nationally. He spent most of the season as the league leader in stops before an injury limited his snaps in the final two games. The Lakeland, Fla., native led the Sun Belt with 17 tackles for loss (1.42 per game) — an average that ranked tied for 14th nationally. He was also credited with 3.5 sacks, a forced and recovered fumble, and recorded one interception. Jackson registered double-digit tackles five times, including a season-high 13 in back-to-back games against Indiana State and Arkansas State. He also posted at least one tackle for loss in 11 games, and led the Hilltoppers in stops in eight of 12 contests.

This is not the first preseason honor for Jackson this season. He has earned first-team all-Sun Belt Conference honors from both the Blue Ribbon Forecast and Phil Steele’s College Football Preview. In addition, the College Football Performance Awards listed Jackson as one of the top players at his position on its preseason defensive watch list.