CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Temple linebacker Tyler Matakevich, who was named last week as the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player, was chosen as the 2015 winner of the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the nation’s top defensive player. The announcement was made Monday by the Football Writers Association of America and the Charlotte Touchdown Club.
 
Matakevich was chosen as the winner among four other finalists: Duke safety Jeremy Cash, Clemson defensive end Shaq Lawson, Penn State defensive end Carl Nassib and Alabama linebacker Reggie Ragland.
 
The active career tackle leader in the NCAA FBS, Matakevich has recorded more than 100 tackles in all four seasons at Temple. He is only the seventh player in FBS history to record more than 100 tackles in four different seasons, and he is the only player in FBS who has led his team in tackles in every game during the 2015 season. He also has the most interceptions by any linebacker in college football this season (five) with 47 yards in returns.
 
Matakevich, through 13 games in 2015, has 126 total tackles. He has 15 tackles for 62 yards in losses. Of those, are 4.5 sacks for losses of 28 yards. In addition, he has five passes broken up and one quarterback hurry.
 
FWAA BRONKO NAGURSKI AWARD
Honoring the nation’s top defensive player as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.  The award, presented by The Charlotte Touchdown Club, was introduced in 1993 and formally took on the name of 1920’s Minnesota All-American in 1995.

2015    Tyler Matakevich, Temple, LB
2014       Scooby Wright, Arizona, LB
2013       Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh, DT
2012       Manti Te’o, Notre Dame, LB
2011       Luke Kuechly, Boston College, LB
2010       Da’Quan Bowers, Clemson, DE
2009       Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska, DT
2008       Brian Orakpo, Texas, DE
2007       Glenn Dorsey, LSU, DT
2006       James Laurinaitis, Ohio St., LB
2005       Elvis Dumerville, Louisville, DE
2004       Derrick Johnson, Texas, LB
2003       Derrick Strait, Oklahoma, DB
2002       Terrell Suggs, Arizona State, DE
2001       Roy Williams, Oklahoma, DB          
2000       Dan Morgan, Miami, LB
1999       Corey Moore, Virginia Tech, DE
1998       Champ Bailey, Georgia, CB
1997       Charles Woodson, Michigan, DB
1996       Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern, DT
1995       Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern, NG
1994       Warren Sapp, Miami, DT
1993       Rob Waldrop, Arizona, NG