IRVING, Texas - The American Athletic Conference placed six players on the preseason watch list for the 2023 Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which goes to the nation's top defensive player.

Tulane and UTSA, the top two picks in The American's 2023 preseason media poll, had two players each chosen to the watch list, while North Texas and Temple had one player each selected.

The Green Wave was represented by defensive end Darius Hodges and cornerback Jarius Monroe. Hodges was a second-team all-conference pick last season who registered 8.0 tackles for loss, while Monroe earned first-team honors and had a team-high three interceptions in 2022.

The Roadrunners had linebacker Trey Moore and safety Rashad Wisdom on the list. Moore set a single-season school record with 18.0 tackles for loss last season, while Wisdom is a two-time first-team all-conference selection.

North Texas saw cornerback Ridge Texada on the watch list. Texada was a first-team all-conference selection last season who had 43 tackles and three interceptions. 

Temple had linebacker Layton Jordan named to the list. Jordan became just the third player in FBS history to register at least 10 tackles for loss (18.5), 5.0 sacks (9.0), three touchdowns and two interceptions in a season.

The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce finalists for the 2023 trophy on Nov. 15 and the winner will be unveiled Dec. 4 at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet in Charlotte, N.C.

The American has had two winners of the Nagkurski Trophy in the league's first 10 seasons. Temple linebacker Tyler Matakevich won in 2016, while Tulsa linebacker Zaven Collins was the 2020 winner.


American Athletic Conference Players on Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List
Darius Hodges, DE, Tulane
Layton Jordan, LB, Temple
Jarius Monroe, CB, Tulane
Trey Moore, LB, UTSA
Ridge Texada, CB, North Texas
Rashad Wisdom, S UTSA