Yawin Smallwood Named to Nagurski Award Watch List

University of Connecticut junior linebacker Yawin Smallwood (Worcester, Mass.) has been named to the 2013 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List on Thursday by the Football Writers Association of America.

The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is presented annually to the national defensive player of the year by the FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club. The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce five finalists for the 2013 Bronko Nagurski Trophy on Nov. 21. The annual Bronko Nagurski Trophy Banquet will be held on Dec. 9 in Charlotte.

Smallwood was a first team All-BIG EAST selection in 2012 and led the Huskies in tackles with 120 and was second in tackles for a loss with 15. He had four sacks and two forced fumbles. Smallwood was tied for 20th in the country in tackles per game (10.0) and was third in the BIG EAST. He was a three-time BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week.

Smallwood has played in all 24 UConn games over the past two seasons and has 214 career tackles with 5.5 sacks and 17.5 TFLs.

Earlier in the week, Smallwood was named to the Watch List for the 2013 Bednarik Award given by the Maxwell Football Club. The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1995.

Reprinted with permission from UConnHuskies.com

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