Texas Tech University Athletics
Three Red Raiders earn spots on Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list
August 04, 2026 | Football
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech linebacker Ben Roberts, defensive tackle A.J. Holmes Jr. and cornerback Brice Pollock were each named Tuesday to the 2026 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List, announced by the Football Writers Association of America. The annual award, won in 2025 by former Red Raider Jacob Rodriguez, honors the nation's top defensive player.
Among the 68 players named to this year's watch list, Indiana led the nation with four selections, while Texas Tech was one of five schools with three honorees, joining BYU, Miami, Notre Dame and Oregon. The Big 12 and ACC each placed 10 players on the list, trailing the SEC (17) and Big Ten (13).
Texas Tech will look to produce the Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner for a second consecutive season after Rodriguez claimed the honor in 2025. Holmes, Roberts and Pollock all return from a defense that helped lead the Red Raiders to the 2025 Big 12 Championship. Holmes was voted the Big 12 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year last month, while all three earned preseason All-Big 12 recognition.
Holmes, a returning 2025 Second Team All-America selection, enters his final collegiate season among the highest-rated returning interior defensive linemen in the country. Holmes recorded 38 tackles (19 solo) last season, including 9.0 for a loss and 4.5 sacks, after recording at least one tackle in all 14 games.
Roberts, already named a team captain ahead of the 2026 season, will look to become just the sixth Big 12 player since 2005 to record four different seasons with 80-plus tackles with a strong senior campaign. He finished as the Red Raiders' second-leading tackler in 2025, totaling 90 stops (44 solo) on the season, including 4.0 for a loss. He was named the Big 12 Championship Game's Most Outstanding Player after helping lead the Red Raiders to their first Big 12 title.
Pollock ranked among the national leaders after picking off five passes in 2025 to go along with 48 tackles (30 solo), including 4.0 that went for a loss. He contributed six takeaways altogether, with a fumble recovery added to his interception total as a key part of a Red Raider defense that led the nation in takeaways.
By position, the list has 21 linebackers, 16 safeties (including one designated nickel back), 13 defensive ends, 10 defensive tackles and eight cornerbacks.
The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce finalists for the 2026 trophy on Nov. 19. The official presentation to the recipient of the 2026 Bronko Nagurski Trophy will be at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet in Charlotte, N.C. on Dec. 7. Players can be added to or removed from the watch list during the season. As in previous years, the FWAA will announce a Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week each Tuesday this season. If not already on the watch list, each week's honored player will be added at that time.
About the FWAA/Bronko Nagurski Award
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.
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football's most prestigious awards. The NCFAA's 25 awards have honored nearly 1,000 recipients since 1935. Sixteen NCFAA members are unveiling preseason watch lists over a three-week period as the association spearheads a coordinated effort to promote each award's preseason candidates.
The following is the remaining 2026 preseason watch list calendar:
Among the 68 players named to this year's watch list, Indiana led the nation with four selections, while Texas Tech was one of five schools with three honorees, joining BYU, Miami, Notre Dame and Oregon. The Big 12 and ACC each placed 10 players on the list, trailing the SEC (17) and Big Ten (13).
Texas Tech will look to produce the Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner for a second consecutive season after Rodriguez claimed the honor in 2025. Holmes, Roberts and Pollock all return from a defense that helped lead the Red Raiders to the 2025 Big 12 Championship. Holmes was voted the Big 12 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year last month, while all three earned preseason All-Big 12 recognition.
Holmes, a returning 2025 Second Team All-America selection, enters his final collegiate season among the highest-rated returning interior defensive linemen in the country. Holmes recorded 38 tackles (19 solo) last season, including 9.0 for a loss and 4.5 sacks, after recording at least one tackle in all 14 games.
Roberts, already named a team captain ahead of the 2026 season, will look to become just the sixth Big 12 player since 2005 to record four different seasons with 80-plus tackles with a strong senior campaign. He finished as the Red Raiders' second-leading tackler in 2025, totaling 90 stops (44 solo) on the season, including 4.0 for a loss. He was named the Big 12 Championship Game's Most Outstanding Player after helping lead the Red Raiders to their first Big 12 title.
Pollock ranked among the national leaders after picking off five passes in 2025 to go along with 48 tackles (30 solo), including 4.0 that went for a loss. He contributed six takeaways altogether, with a fumble recovery added to his interception total as a key part of a Red Raider defense that led the nation in takeaways.
By position, the list has 21 linebackers, 16 safeties (including one designated nickel back), 13 defensive ends, 10 defensive tackles and eight cornerbacks.
The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce finalists for the 2026 trophy on Nov. 19. The official presentation to the recipient of the 2026 Bronko Nagurski Trophy will be at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet in Charlotte, N.C. on Dec. 7. Players can be added to or removed from the watch list during the season. As in previous years, the FWAA will announce a Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week each Tuesday this season. If not already on the watch list, each week's honored player will be added at that time.
About the FWAA/Bronko Nagurski Award
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.
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football's most prestigious awards. The NCFAA's 25 awards have honored nearly 1,000 recipients since 1935. Sixteen NCFAA members are unveiling preseason watch lists over a three-week period as the association spearheads a coordinated effort to promote each award's preseason candidates.
The following is the remaining 2026 preseason watch list calendar:
- Wed., Aug. 5: John Mackey Award
- Thu., Aug. 6: Rimington Trophy
- Fri., Aug. 7: Lou Groza Award
- Mon., Aug. 10: Paul Hornung Award
- Tue., Aug. 11: Allstate Wuerffel Trophy
- Wed., Aug. 12: Paycom Jim Thorpe Award
- Thu., Aug. 13: Butkus Award
- Fri., Aug. 14: Ray Guy Award
- Mon., Aug. 17: Walter Camp Award
- Tue., Aug. 18: Doak Walker Award
- Wed., Aug. 19: Biletnikoff Award
- Thu., Aug. 20: Davey O'Brien Award
- Fri., Aug. 21: Bednarik Award
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