Temple University Athletics
Watch: Matakevich Wins Bronko Nagurski Award
12.7.15 | Football, T. Matakevich - All-American Candidate
PHILADELPHIA - Tyler Matakevich, senior linebacker for the Temple Owls, has been named the winner of the 2015 Bronko Nagurski Trophy. The award is given to the nation's best defensive player by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and the Charlotte Touchdown Club. Matakevich was recently named American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year and Walter Camp Football Foundation Connecticut Player of the Year. He remains a finalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award, the Lott IMPACT Trophy, and the Senior CLASS Award.
The Stratford, Conn., native is the only FBS players to lead his team in tackles every game of the 2015 season. He is college football's active leader with 481 career tackles. This year he has 126 tackles, and he became just the seventh college football player to have four seasons over 100 tackles. He also leads the nation in interceptions among linebackers with a career-high five and also reached career-highs in sacks (4.5) and tackles for loss (15.0).
On winning the award, Matakevich called it an "unbelievable, awesome experience. Temple has had nobody here to win it. It is a humbling experience." And, on the Owls' breakthrough season, he said, "We had 22 seniors and all us went through 2-10 and 6-6 and we went though a coaching change. We said enough is enough. We are not going to lose anymore."
Vying for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy given to the National Defensive Player of the Year with Matakevich were: Duke safety Jeremy Cash, Clemson end Shaq Lawson, Penn State end Carl Nassib and Alabama linebacker Reggie Ragland.
The award is named after the legendary Bronko Nagurski, who dominated college football at the University of Minnesota as a bruising fullback and defensive tackle from 1927-29. He could have been an All-American at any position and was the best player wherever the coaches put him. Nagurski led Minnesota to the Big Ten title in 1927 and a three-year record of 18-4-2. He went on to lead the fabled Chicago Bears to three NFL titles.
The FWAA has named a National Defensive Player of the Year since the 1993 season. Of the five schools represented among the finalists, only Clemson has had a previous winner, Da'Quan Bowers in 2010.
Celebrating its 75th year, the Football Writers Association of America, a non-profit organization, consists of more than 1,400 men and women who cover college football. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include gameday operations, major awards and its annual All-America team.
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association. The NCFAA encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. The 22 awards boast more than 700 years of tradition-selection excellence. Visit ncfaa.org to learn more.
The Charlotte Touchdown Club is a non-profit organization founded in 1990 for the purpose of promoting high school, collegiate, and professional football in the Charlotte, N.C., region. The club's activities and services focus community attention on the outstanding citizenship, scholarship, sportsmanship, and leadership of area athletes and coaches. The official website of the Charlotte Touchdown Club is touchdownclub.com.
Click here to watch video.
The Stratford, Conn., native is the only FBS players to lead his team in tackles every game of the 2015 season. He is college football's active leader with 481 career tackles. This year he has 126 tackles, and he became just the seventh college football player to have four seasons over 100 tackles. He also leads the nation in interceptions among linebackers with a career-high five and also reached career-highs in sacks (4.5) and tackles for loss (15.0).
On winning the award, Matakevich called it an "unbelievable, awesome experience. Temple has had nobody here to win it. It is a humbling experience." And, on the Owls' breakthrough season, he said, "We had 22 seniors and all us went through 2-10 and 6-6 and we went though a coaching change. We said enough is enough. We are not going to lose anymore."
Vying for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy given to the National Defensive Player of the Year with Matakevich were: Duke safety Jeremy Cash, Clemson end Shaq Lawson, Penn State end Carl Nassib and Alabama linebacker Reggie Ragland.
The award is named after the legendary Bronko Nagurski, who dominated college football at the University of Minnesota as a bruising fullback and defensive tackle from 1927-29. He could have been an All-American at any position and was the best player wherever the coaches put him. Nagurski led Minnesota to the Big Ten title in 1927 and a three-year record of 18-4-2. He went on to lead the fabled Chicago Bears to three NFL titles.
The FWAA has named a National Defensive Player of the Year since the 1993 season. Of the five schools represented among the finalists, only Clemson has had a previous winner, Da'Quan Bowers in 2010.
Celebrating its 75th year, the Football Writers Association of America, a non-profit organization, consists of more than 1,400 men and women who cover college football. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include gameday operations, major awards and its annual All-America team.
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association. The NCFAA encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. The 22 awards boast more than 700 years of tradition-selection excellence. Visit ncfaa.org to learn more.
The Charlotte Touchdown Club is a non-profit organization founded in 1990 for the purpose of promoting high school, collegiate, and professional football in the Charlotte, N.C., region. The club's activities and services focus community attention on the outstanding citizenship, scholarship, sportsmanship, and leadership of area athletes and coaches. The official website of the Charlotte Touchdown Club is touchdownclub.com.
Click here to watch video.
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