Three Alabama Defenders Named to Nagurski Trophy Watch List

The FWAA announced on Tuesday the watch list for the Bronco Nagurski Trophy, awarded annually to the top defender in college football. 60 candidates were named to the watch list, including three of Alabama's returning veterans on the defensive side of the football: Deontae Lawson, Tim Keenan III, and LT Overton.

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Deontae Lawson, a redshirt senior from Mobile, Alabama, returned to the Crimson Tide after suffering a knee injury in the Tide's 24-3 loss to Oklahoma, which kept him out for the rest of the season. Lawson told us during SEC Media Days that he will be ready to go for Fall Camp, but will still be monitored until he is fully cleared to play. Despite the knee injury, Lawson was a team captain for Alabama last season and started in 11 games, totaling 76 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, four pass breakups, one interception, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. Lawson was named a semifinalist for the Butkus Award last season and was named to the watch list for the Bednarik, Lott, Nagurski, and Lombardi Awards before last season.

Joining him as a redshirt senior this season is Alabama defensive tackle Tim Keenan III. Keenan, a native of Birmingham, Alabama, started 12 games for the Crimson Tide last season, totaling 40 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks. He earned SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week accolades for his performance against USF. Keenan was named to the AFCA Good Works Team and the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year watch lists in the preseason, as well as the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List.

Another senior joins the list, with Alabama edge rusher LT Overton, a native of Milton, Georgia, being named to the Nagurski Trophy Watch List. Overton transferred to Alabama from Texas A&M last offseason and became a wrecking ball in offensive backfields as a weapon for the Tide. Overton started four games, but appeared in all 13, recording 42 tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one pass breakup in 2024.

They aren't the only players to be named to a watch list this preseason, with Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams being named to the Maxwell Award Watch List on Monday.

Alabama has produced two Nagurski Trophy winners in its history, with Will Anderson Jr. winning the award in 2021 and 2022, and Jonathan Allen winning the award in 2016.

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.