Five Bruins named to Bronko Nagurski, Outland Trophy watch lists

Five Bruin football players were named to a pair of NCAA award watch lists, as the Football Writers Association of America announced its selections Friday morning.

The Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which goes to the top defensive player in collegiate football, included rising junior linebacker Myles Jack, rising junior defensive lineman Kenny Clark and rising senior defensive back Fabian Moreau in its preseason watch list.

The Outland Trophy, an award for the best interior lineman, named three Bruin linemen in its 81-man list: rising redshirt senior center Jake Brendel, rising junior defensive linemen Eddie Vanderdoes and Clark.

Jack and Clark have made appearances on three 2015 watch lists so far. Earlier in the week, the pair was named to the Chuck Bednarik Award watch list, a defensive player of the year award similar to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy. Jack was also included on the Paul Hornung Award Watch List for versatile, all-purpose players.

Brendel is now up for his second award after the 2014 team co-captain was named to the Rimington Trophy Watch List on Wednesday. This is the second year in a row he has made the Outland Trophy Watch List.

Newcomers to the 2015 watch lists are Moreau and Vanderdoes.

Moreau, who started all 13 games last season, was a second-team all-conference selection in 2014. In UCLA’s bowl game against Kansas State, the senior offered one of his best career performances with nine stops.

Vanderdoes was an honorable mention all-conference selection in 2014, starting 12 of 13 games. He had 50 tackles last year, including a season-high nine against Utah, eight against Arizona and seven against USC.

The Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner will be announced Dec. 7, while the Outland Trophy winner will be recognized Jan. 14, 2016.

Compiled by Tanner Walters, Bruin Sports senior staff.