The Nagurski Award Watch List has also been released. The 87 (!) players on the watch list are candidates to be named the nation's best defensive player. As with the Bednarik Award, there are six Big East players on the current watch list.
- Bruce Irvin - DE - West Virginia
- Brandon Lindsey - DT - Pittsburgh
- Kendall Reyes - DT - Connecticut
- J.K. Schaffer - Cincinnati
- Keith Tandy - CB - West Virginia
- Derek Wolfe - DT - Cincinnati
2011 BRONKO NAGURSKI TROPHY PRESEASON WATCH LIST (87)
Ray-Ray Armstrong, Miami, S
Markelle Martin, Oklahoma State, S
Mark Barron, Alabama, S
Mike Martin, Michigan, DT
Jake Bequette, Arkansas, DE
Chris Marve, Vanderbilt, LB
Brandon Boykin, Georgia, CB
Jonathan Massaquoi, Troy, DE
Nigel Bradham, Florida State, LB
Michael Mauti, Penn State, LB
Tanner Brock, TCU, LB
T.J. McDonald, USC, S
Arthur Brown, Kansas State, LB
Chase Minnifield, Virginia, CB
Zach Brown, North Carolina, LB
Charles Mitchell, Mississippi State, S
Vince Browne, Northwestern, DE
Roosevelt Nix, Kent State, DE
Vontaze Burfict, Arizona State, LB
Donte Paige-Moss, North Carolina, DE
Miles Burris, San Diego State, LB
Dontari Poe, Memphis, DT
Tank Carder, TCU, LB
Tydreke Powell, North Carolina, DT
Morris Claiborne, LSU, CB
Shaun Prater, Iowa, CB
Quinton Coples, North Carolina, DE
Kheeston Randall, Texas, DT
Fletcher Cox, Mississippi State, DE
Kendall Reyes, Connecticut, DT
Jared Crick, Nebraska, DT
Xavier Rhodes, Florida State, CB
Vinny Curry, Marshall, DE
Adrian Robinson, Temple, DE
Lavonte David, Nebraska, LB
Josh Robinson, UCF, CB
Alfonzo Dennard, Nebraska, CB
Keenan Robinson, Texas, LB
Tony Dye, UCLA, S
J.K. Schaffer, Cincinnati, LB
Marcus Forston, Miami, DT
Kawann Short, Purdue, DT
Jerry Franklin, Arkansas, LB
Mychal Sisson, Colorado State, LB
Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina, CB
Shayne Skov, Stanford, LB
Zaviar Gooden, Missouri, LB
Harrison Smith, Notre Dame, S
Logan Harrell, Fresno State, DT
Akeem Spence, Illinois, DT
Cliff Harris, Oregon, CB
Sean Spence, Miami, LB
Casey Hayward, Vanderbilt, CB
Alameda Ta'amu, Washington, DT
Dont'a Hightower, Alabama, LB
Keith Tandy, West Virginia, CB
Jayron Hosley, Virginia Tech, CB
Kenny Tate, Maryland, S/LB
Jaye Howard, Florida, DT
Bruce Taylor, Virginia Tech, LB
Delano Howell, Stanford, S
Devin Taylor, South Carolina, DE
Bruce Irvin, West Virginia, DE
Manti Te'o, Notre Dame, LB
Malik Jackson, Tennessee, DT
Taylor Thompson, SMU, DE
Brandon Jenkins, Florida State, DE
Danny Trevathan, Kentucky, LB
James-Michael Johnson, Nevada, LB
Courtney Upshaw, Alabama, LB
Coryell Judie, Texas A&M, CB
Prentiss Waggner, Tennessee, S
Mychal Kendricks, California, LB
Bobby Wagner, Utah State, LB
Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama, CB
Brian Wagner, Akron, LB
Jake Knott, Iowa State, LB
Korey Williams, Southern Miss, LB
Luke Kuechly, Boston College, LB
Nathan Williams, Ohio State, DE
Robert Lester, Alabama, S
Billy Winn, Boise State, DT
Travis Lewis, Oklahoma, LB
Derek Wolfe, Cincinnati, DT
Brandon Lindsey, Pittsburgh, DE
Jerel Worthy, Michigan State, DT
Brad Madison, Missouri, DE
By conference: SEC 19, ACC 14, Big Ten 10, Big 12 9, Pac-12 9, Big East 6, Conference USA 5, Mountain West 5, Independents 3, MAC 3, WAC 3, Sun Belt 1.
Players may be added or deleted from the list before or during the season