Temple University Athletics
Football’s Maijeh on Outland and Nagurski Trophy Watch Lists
7.21.20 | Football
DALLAS – The Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) announced the preseason watch list for the 2020 Outland Trophy and the 2020 Bronko Nagurski Trophy, both including Temple redshirt junior defensive tackle Ifeanyi Maijeh. The Outland Trophy recognized outstanding interior linemen and the Nagurski Trophy is presented to the nation's best defensive player. Last week Maijeh found himself on the Bednarik Award Watch List.
Maijeh had a breakout season in 2019 with career-bests in tackles (52), TFLs (10.0) and sacks (6.5) earning first team All-American Athletic Conference honors. He used his quick hands and explosive first step to notch at least a partial sack in each of the first six games. By midseason, the Far Rockaway, N.Y., native's play warranted constant double-teams opening up pass rushing lanes for teammate Quincy Roche who collected 10.0 sacks in November, on his way to AAC Defensive Player of the Year.
The 2020 Outland Trophy recognized 85 standout interior linemen representing all 10 Division I FBS conferences and independents. This is the 75th anniversary season for the Outland Trophy and the watch list presents a diverse field of players. Maijeh is one of 17 defensive tackles on the list as well as just one of five players from the American Athletic Conference.
The recipient of the 75th Outland Trophy will be announced in early December. The official presentation to the winner will be made in Omaha, Neb., at the Outland Trophy Awards Dinner sponsored by Werner Enterprises and produced by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee, scheduled for Jan. 13, 2021.
The FWAA, in conjunction with the Charlotte Touchdown Club, selected 98 defensive standouts for the preseason watch list for the 2020 Bronko Nagurski Trophy presented by LendingTree. Maijeh is one of 16 defensive tackles on the list as well as just one of six players from the American Athletic Conference. Players may be added or removed from the watch list during the course of the season. As in previous years, the FWAA will announce a National Defensive Player of the Week each Tuesday this season. If not already on the watch list, each week's honored player will be added at that time. The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce five finalists for the 2020 Bronko Nagurski Trophy and one winner will be selected in December.
Temple's Tyler Matakevich won the Nagurski Trophy in 2015.
The FWAA has chosen a National Defensive Player of the Year since 1993. In 1995, the FWAA named the award in honor of the legendary two-way player from the University of Minnesota. Nagurski dominated college football, then became a star for professional football's Chicago Bears in the 1930s. Bronislaw "Bronko" Nagurski is a charter member of both the College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame.
Maijeh had a breakout season in 2019 with career-bests in tackles (52), TFLs (10.0) and sacks (6.5) earning first team All-American Athletic Conference honors. He used his quick hands and explosive first step to notch at least a partial sack in each of the first six games. By midseason, the Far Rockaway, N.Y., native's play warranted constant double-teams opening up pass rushing lanes for teammate Quincy Roche who collected 10.0 sacks in November, on his way to AAC Defensive Player of the Year.
The 2020 Outland Trophy recognized 85 standout interior linemen representing all 10 Division I FBS conferences and independents. This is the 75th anniversary season for the Outland Trophy and the watch list presents a diverse field of players. Maijeh is one of 17 defensive tackles on the list as well as just one of five players from the American Athletic Conference.
The recipient of the 75th Outland Trophy will be announced in early December. The official presentation to the winner will be made in Omaha, Neb., at the Outland Trophy Awards Dinner sponsored by Werner Enterprises and produced by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee, scheduled for Jan. 13, 2021.
The FWAA, in conjunction with the Charlotte Touchdown Club, selected 98 defensive standouts for the preseason watch list for the 2020 Bronko Nagurski Trophy presented by LendingTree. Maijeh is one of 16 defensive tackles on the list as well as just one of six players from the American Athletic Conference. Players may be added or removed from the watch list during the course of the season. As in previous years, the FWAA will announce a National Defensive Player of the Week each Tuesday this season. If not already on the watch list, each week's honored player will be added at that time. The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce five finalists for the 2020 Bronko Nagurski Trophy and one winner will be selected in December.
Temple's Tyler Matakevich won the Nagurski Trophy in 2015.
The FWAA has chosen a National Defensive Player of the Year since 1993. In 1995, the FWAA named the award in honor of the legendary two-way player from the University of Minnesota. Nagurski dominated college football, then became a star for professional football's Chicago Bears in the 1930s. Bronislaw "Bronko" Nagurski is a charter member of both the College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame.
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