Johnthan Banks Named To Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State preseason All-American defensive back Johnthan Banks was named to the 2012 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List, the Football Writers Association of America and the Charlotte Touchdown Club announced Thursday. The award is given annually to the nation's best defensive player, and is the third yearly award Banks has appeared on a watch list for (Bednarik Award, Lott IMPACT Trophy).
A member of seven different 2012 preseason All-SEC first teams, Banks tallied 71 tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks and five interceptions last season on his way to being named to the All-SEC second team by the Associated Press. The Maben, Miss., native was a finalist for the Conerly Trophy and was a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, which announces its watch list Friday.
For the 12th consecutive season, the FWAA will choose a Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week, before announcing five finalists for the award on Nov. 15. The winner is chosen from five finalists who are part of the FWAA All-America Team. The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the entire membership, selects the 25-man team and eventually the Bronko Nagurski finalists. Committee members, then by individual ballot, select the winner, the best defensive player in America. The annual Bronko Nagurski Trophy Banquet presented by ACN will be Dec. 3 at the Westin Hotel in Charlotte, N.C.
For more information on Banks and the MSU football program, follow the program on Twitter at @MStateFB and like the team on Facebook at Facebook.com/MStateFB.
Johnthan
Banks' 2012
Preseason Honors
Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List
Bednarik Award Watch List
Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List
All-American: Athlon (First Team), Phil Steele (Second Team)
All-SEC First Team (Defense): SEC Coaches, Athlon, Blue Ribbon, Birmingham
News, Lindys, Phil Steele, USA Today
All-SEC Second Team (All-Purpose): SEC Coaches
All-SEC Third Team (Special Teams): Athlon, Phil Steele
Lindys Magazine "Best Cover Corner in SEC"
