LSU football: Pair of Tigers on ‘best defender’ preseason watch list
By John Fye
Fans expect a big season from the LSU football defense in 2023. We know college football writers feel the same, given their Nagurski Trophy Watch List.
On Tuesday, two LSU football defensive standouts were named to the 2023 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List. Defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo and linebacker Harold Perkins appear on the list of 94 defensive standouts released by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA).
At the end of each season, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy recognizes the best defensive player in college football.
BJ Ojulari was the only LSU football defender to appear on the 2022 Nagurski Trophy Watch List. As such, including two Tigers on the 2023 watch list indicates significant expectations.
Mekhi Wingo is entering his junior season in Baton Rouge with All-American hype. The 295-pounder totaled 47 tackles, six tackles for loss, three sacks, and a forced fumble in 2022. Suffice it to say, Wingo immediately impacted the LSU football defense after transferring from Missouri.
The FWAA listed Harold Perkins as a ‘super sophomore’ in their Nagurski watch list announcement. As such, the expectation for Perkins is astronomical in 2023.
Perkins accumulated 72 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and an interception last season. Even more impressive is that Perkins posted such numbers in only eight starts.
We expect more output from Perkins as the marquee defender in all LSU football games this season. Indeed, he is a favorite to win the 2023 Bronko Nagurski Trophy.
The FWAA and Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce the Nagurski Trophy finalists on November 15th. Moreover, the Nagurski Trophy winner will be announced at the Nagurski Awards Banquet in Charlotte on December 4th.
The Nagurski Trophy is named after former University of Minnesota and Chicago Bears fullback, Bronko Nagurski.
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Alabama’s Will Anderson Jr. won the 2022 Nagurski Trophy. The last LSU football player to win the award was defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey in 2007.