University of Arizona senior linebacker Marcus Bell has been named to the Bronko Nagurski Award watch list. The award honors the top defensive player in the nation and is given by the Charlotte Touchdown Club.
Bell leads the Wildcats in tackles, and if fifth in the Pacific-10 Conference, this season with 82, 46 solo. He is tied for the team lead in tackles for loss with nine, and has one-half sack. Bell has also broken up three passes this season and intercepted one against USC.
Bell, the only Pac-10 player on the watch list, was a key part of the Arizona defense that held UCLA to -31 yards rushing and USC to -20. He earned Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Week honors for his nine tackle, three for loss, one interception performance against the Trojans.
Bell is also a finalist for the Butkus Award, given annually to the nation's top linebacker. His teammate, senior wide receiver Dennis Northcutt, was named a Biletnikoff Award semi-finalist, which goes to the nation's top receiver.
The Bronco Nagurski Award was first presented in 1993. It was won that year by Wildcat nose guard Rob Waldrop. Five finalists will be announced later this month, and the award will be announced Dec. 6 in Charlotte.
Bronko Nagurski Award Watch List
LaVar Arrington, Penn State Marcus Bell, Arizona Courtney Brown, Penn State
Mike Brown, Nebraska Tyrone Carter, Minnestoa Chris Combs, Duke
Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, San Diego St. Deon Grant, Tennessee Chris Hovan, Virginia Tech
Jerry Johnson, Florida State Corey Moore, Virginia Tech Dan Morgan, Miami (Fla.)
Rob Renes, Michigan Aaron Schobel, TCU Mark Simoneau, Kansas State
Adalius Thomas, So. Mississippi Brian Ulracher, New Mexico Brian Young, UTEP
Past award winners
1993 Rob Waldrop, NG, Arizona
1994 Warren Sapp, DT, Miami (Fla.)
1995 Pat Fitzgerald, LB, Northwestern
1996 Pat Fitzgerald, LB, Northwestern
1997 Charles Woodson, CB, Michigan
1998 Champ Bailey, CB, Georgia
