A Trio Of Notre Dame Defenders Named To The 2026 Bronko Nagurski Award Watch List
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We're 25 days away from week zero of the 2026 college football seasoning kicking off. With that in mind, it's the time of the preseason where a lot of notable post season award watchlists get released. We've already seen quarterback CJ Carr named to the Maxwell Award watch list. Today, a trio of Notre Dame defenders were named to the Bronko Narguski Award watch list, an award that All-American safety Xavier Watts won in 2023.
Cornerback Leonard Moore, linebacker Drayk Bowen and defensive end Boubacar Traore were named to the Nagurski watch this list afternoon. It's an award that recognizes the best defensive player in college football based on performance and character. Some consider it to be the 'Heisman Trophy' for defensive players
Moore was named a finalist for this award after his 2025 performance where he was named a Unanimous All-American, posted 31 total tackles, seven passes defensed, seven pass break ups and a team-leading five interceptions despite missing two games in the regular season last fall. The Texas native returns to college football this year as the No. 1 cornerback in the nation with ESPN dubbing him the No. 1 overall defender in college football.
Bowen is entering his third, and likely final, year in the Notre Dame starting lineup. The Indiana native was named a captain for the 2025 season and, after a rough start, finished the year with 67 tackles which led the team. Bowen also logged 3.5 sacks and four pass break ups. The experienced Mike linebacker returns to the defense this fall and is expected to be a captain and leader of Chris Ash's unit this fall.
Traore had a breakout last fall, his first year removed from a knee injury which sidelined him the remainder of the 2024 season. The Massachusetts native led the team in total pressures (31), sacks (6.5 sacks) and tackles for a loss (10.0). This year, Traore is on his journey to being considered one of the premier edge players in the country. After his performance last season, Traore was named a College Football Comeback Player of the Year Semifinalist.
Two former Notre Dame stars have taken home the Bronko Nagurski Award. The latest was Watts after his exemplorary 2023 season. In 2012, linebacker Manti Te'o won the award after his historic performance nearly 15 years ago. Te'o was also a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, won the Maxwell Award, the Nagurski Award and a host of others making him one of the most decorated players in a single season in college football history.
All three of these standouts at Notre Dame between Moore, Bowen and Traore have the opportunity to take this award home, as do some other players who weren't mentioned on this list like safety Brauntae Johnson. It just goes to show, one of the most loaded defenses in the entire country can be found with the Fighting Irish.
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