PROVO -- BYU defensive lineman Brady Poppinga has been selected as one of 58 candidates for the 2004 Bronko Nagurski Award. The Football Writers Association and the Charlotte Touchdown Club released its official "watch list" today, naming the preliminary candidates for the annual award that honors the top defensive player in the nation. The winner of the award will be announced on Dec. 6, 2004 at a banquet in Charlotte, N.C.
"I'm not surprised that Brady has been named as a candidate for the top defensive player award," defensive line coach Steve Kaufusi said. "He has a tremendous work ethic which has led to success on the field. He has gained the respect of his teammates, as well as opponents, by example--by his actions on and off the field."
Poppinga, a 6-foot-3, 257-pound senior from Evanston, Wyo., earned first-team All-Mountain West Conference honors last season after ranking among the league leaders with 55 tackles on the season, including 34 solo takedowns. He recorded 13 tackles for a combined loss of 43 yards, including a team best six sacks on the season.