October 23, 2019

LOUISIANA TECH’S ROBERTSON IS BRONKO NAGURSKI NATIONAL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

DALLAS (FWAA) – Amik Robertson picked off three passes and continued a stat-packed season in the Louisiana Tech secondary, leading the Bulldogs to a 45-30 win over Southern Miss. The nation’s leader in passes defended became just the third player in school history to have three interceptions in one game, earning him the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week honor for games in the weekend of Oct. 19, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

The junior cornerback from Thibodaux, La., complemented one of the best individual defensive performances in school history by adding two pass breakups and three tackles. Robertson’s three interceptions came off Southern Miss quarterback Jack Abraham, Conference USA’s passing leader, and marked the first time since 2017 and only the 12th time in C-USA history for a player to have three in a single game. His five interceptions this season are tied for second in the nation and he is the FBS leader in total passes defended this season with 16.

For his career, Robertson has secured 14 interceptions, good for fifth in the Louisiana Tech career record book and the most among FBS active players. The Bulldogs’ defense held Southern Miss to just three points in the second half, allowing the C-USA West Division leaders to rally back from an early 14-point deficit.

Each Tuesday during the regular season, the FWAA has selected a Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week since 2001. Robertson will be added to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List. The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce five finalists for the 2019 Bronko Nagurski Trophy on Wed., Nov. 20. The winner will be chosen from those five finalists who are part of the 2019 FWAA All-America Team.

The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the association’s entire membership, selects a 26-man All-America Team and eventually the Bronko Nagurski Trophy finalists. The committee members then select the winner as the best defensive player in college football.

The annual Bronko Nagurski Trophy Awards Banquet will be held on Monday, December 9th in Charlotte, NC. In addition to the 2019 Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner’s announcement, UCLA’s Jerry Robinson from the Class of 1978 will receive this year’s Bronko Nagurski Legends Award. The keynote address will be delivered by Ohio State head coach Ryan Day. The Charlotte Touchdown Club will also be presenting the Defender of the Nation Award to a defensive player from one of the Nation’s nine military academies and institutions sponsored by The Independence Fund.

The FWAA has chosen a National Defensive Player of the Year since 1993. In 1995, the FWAA named the award in honor of the legendary two-way player from the University of Minnesota. Nagurski dominated college football then became a star for professional football’s Chicago Bears in the 1930s. Bronislaw “Bronko” Nagurski is a charter member of both the College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame.

Founded in 1941, the Football Writers Association of America consists of 1,400 men and women who cover college football. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include game-day operations, major awards and its annual All-America team. For more information about the FWAA and its award programs, contact Steve Richardson at tiger@fwaa.com.

About the Charlotte Touchdown Club
The Charlotte Touchdown Club is a non-profit organization founded in 1990 for the purpose of promoting high school, collegiate, and professional football in the Charlotte, N.C., region. The club’s activities and services focus community attention on the outstanding citizenship, scholarship, sportsmanship, and leadership of area athletes and coaches. Since 1990, the club has raised more than $2 million to benefit area high school and collegiate athletics. For more information, contact John Rocco (704-347-2918 or jrocco@touchdownclub.mysites.io). The official website of the Charlotte Touchdown Club is touchdownclub.mysites.io.

2019 Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Players of the Week
• Weekend of Aug. 31: Alijah Halliburton, Wyoming
• Weekend of Sept. 7: Evan Weaver, Cal
• Weekend of Sept. 14: David Reese II, Florida
• Weekend of Sept. 21: Demetrius Taylor, Appalachian State
• Weekend of Sept. 28: Benny Walls, Temple
• Weekend of Oct. 5: Jordyn Brooks, Texas Tech
• Weekend of Oct. 12: Israel Mukuamu, South Carolina
• Weekend of Oct. 19: Amik Robertson, Louisiana Tech

Related link:
• Bronko Nagurski Trophy (All-Time Winners, Finalists and Players of the Week)