Danny Stutsman and Billy Bowman Jr. have been added to the preseason Nagurski Trophy shortlist.
The Oklahoma football tandem, who were named preseason first-team All-SEC defenders at SEC Media Days this month, added another honor ahead of their senior season with the Sooners. Stutsman and Bowman were among the 75 players named to the watchlist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which is awarded annually to the nation’s best defensive player.
It’s the second year in a row that Stutsman has been named to the watchlist for the Nagurski Trophy, which ultimately went to Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts. It’s Bowman’s first time landing on the preseason watchlist for the award.
Two Oklahoma football players have taken home the Nagurski since the award’s inception in 1993: safety Roy Williams in 2001 and cornerback Derrick Strait in 2003. Stutsman will try to become the third Sooner recognized if he can put together another All-American campaign during his senior season.
The 6-foot-4, 241-pound Stutsman is coming off back-to-back 100-tackle seasons, having led Oklahoma in tackles each of the last two years. As a sophomore in 2022, Stutsman racked up 124 tackles, including 10.5 for a loss and three sacks while also intercepting two passes and breaking up five more. As an encore last fall, Stutsman tallied 104 tackles, including a team-leading 16 behind the line of scrimmage. Among those tackles for loss were three sacks, adding to a junior statline that featured three pass breakups, two forced fumbles, an interception returned for a touchdown and 20 total pressures.
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He considered declaring for the NFL Draft at the end of the season and wrestled with whether to forgo his final year of eligibility before ultimately deciding to return for one last season and a chance to cement his legacy at Oklahoma, where he’ll lead a still-improving Sooners defense into the program’s first year in the SEC.
Bowman likewise considered turning pro after last season but opted to return to Oklahoma to further hone his skillset after an All-Big 12 season in 2023. He totaled 63 tackles and had six interceptions, three of which he returned for touchdowns. His six interceptions were the second most among FBS players last season, while his three pick-sixes led the country, as did his 238 return yards on those interceptions. Bowman set Oklahoma football program records in both interception return yards and pick-sixes, and he has nine interceptions over the last two seasons.
The first three practices of fall camp are in the books for Oklahoma as they gear up for the 2024 season and the program’s first in the SEC. After a day off on Sunday, the Sooners will get back to work on Monday, beginning a loaded next three weeks going into the first game week against Temple at month’s end.
While it’s only been a few practices, there are some things to glean from here in the early-going of camp, so let’s dive in on a few takeaways:
