Two USM Players Named to Nagurski Watch List

Etric Pruitt

CHICAGO – A pair of Southern Miss standouts appear on the 2003 Watch List of candidates for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, awarded annually to the nation's top defensive college player, according to the Charlotte Touchdown Club and the Football Writers Association of America. Golden Eagle senior linebacker Rod Davis and senior defensive back Etric Pruitt are the two C-USA players outlined among 36 player list of premier Division I-A athletes on the preseason watch list.

In 2002, Davis was named a first-team All-American by CollegeFootballNews.com and the All-American Football Foundation, a third-team selection by The Associated Press, a third-team selection by The Sporting News and honorable-mention by CNNSI.com.

Davis, who received the 2002 Conerly Trophy signifying the top player in the state of Mississippi, was also a first-team All-Conference USA member for the second year in a row. He led Southern Miss in tackles (168), solo tackles (122), sacks (10.5) and tackles for loss (23.5) and was ranked among the nation's best in each of the listed categories, No. 3 in solo tackles, tied for No. 6 in total tackles, tied for 13th in tackles for loss and No. 18 in sacks.

Davis, one of only two returning AP All-American linebackers, averaged 12.9 tackles a game, 0.81 sacks a game and 1.8 tackles for loss per game. He also registered two interceptions, two pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He led Conference USA in tackles, solo tackles and sacks and was second in tackles for loss.

Pruitt was named as a 2002 second-team All-American by CNNSI.com and CollegeFootballNews.com and earned Fourth Team All-American honors from The Sporting News. A first team all-Conference USA selection, he was a 2002 Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalist.

He started all 13 games last season, finishing third on the Southern Miss defense in tackles with 139 (10.7 average). Pruitt collected six interceptions (tying a C-USA record with three vs. Army), and added 13 pass breakups, 1.5 sacks, seven tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and three blocked punts.

The award, named after Hall of Famer and University of Minnesota and Chicago Bears star Bronko Nagurski, recognizes the best all-around defensive players throughout the year with the Bronko Nagurski Player of the Week. In November, five finalists will be selected by the FWAA All-America committee and the trophy will be presented to the winner at a banquet on December 8 in Charlotte, N.C.

The Watch List serves as guide to the best players in the game and is updated each week during the college football season. Of last season's five Bronko Nagurski finalists, only Georgia defensive end David Pollack returns for the 2003 season. It is the 11th straight year the FWAA has honored the Defensive Player of the Year.

The 800-member Football Writers Association of America selects the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list candidates, identifies the players of the week and names the trophy winner. The Charlotte Touchdown Club, a non-profit organization that raises funds for scholarships, has presented the trophy each year since 1995.

The distinguished recipients who have been awarded the Bronko Nagurski Trophy in past years include the following: Rob Waldrop (1993), Warren Sapp (1994), Pat Fitzgerald (1995 and '96), Charles Woodson (1997), Champ Bailey (1998), Corey Moore (1999), Dan Morgan (2000), and Roy Williams (2001). The 2002 winner was Terrell Suggs, a defensive end from Arizona State University.

2003 Bronko Nagurski Watch List:
Tim Anderson, DL, Ohio State
Jason Babin, DL, Western Michigan
Atari Bigby, DB, Central Florida
Michael Boulware, LB, Florida State
Jamaal Brimmer, DB, UNLV
Jorge Cordova, DE, Nevada
Karlos Dansby, LB, Auburn
Rod Davis, LB, Southern Miss
Brandon Everage, DB, Oklahoma
Matt Grootegoed, LB, USC
Claude Harriott, DE, Pittsburgh
Tommie Harris, DT, Oklahoma
Derrick Johnson, LB, Texas
Jason Kaufusi, DL, Utah
Brandon Kennedy, DT, North Texas
Teddy Lehman, LB, Oklahoma
Jim Leonhard, DB, Wisconsin
Justin Miller, CB, Clemson
Kirk Morrison, LB, San Diego State
Antwan Odom, DE, Alabama
Philip Perry, DE, San Jose State
David Pollack, DE, Georgia
Etric Pruitt, DB, Southern Miss
Bob Sanders, DB, Iowa
Stuart Schweigert, FS, Purdue
Darrion Scott, DL, Ohio State
Richard Seigler, LB, Oregon State
Isaac Sopoaga, DT, Hawai'i
Derrick Strait, DB, Oklahoma
Marcus Tubbs, DT, Texas
Kenechi Udeze, DE, USC
Jonathan Vilma, LB, Miami
Courtney Watson, LB, Notre Dame
Corey Webster, CB, LSU
Grant Wiley, LB, West Virginia
Madieu Williams, CB, Maryland