TEMPE, Ariz. – Sun Devil Football linebacker Antonio Longino has earned a spot on the preseason watch list for the Butkus Award, and cornerback Lloyd Carrington and safety Jordan Simone have been named to the Bronko Nagurski Watch List, the Butkus Foundation and the Football Writers Association of America, respectively, announced Tuesday.
The Butkus Award is given to the nation’s most outstanding linebacker, and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy is awarded to the national defensive player of the year.
Carrington and Simone were not part of the initial Nagurski Watch List, which was announced on July 10, but the duo was added to the list on July 14.
Longino, a redshirt senior from Cleveland, ranked third on the team in 2014 with 94 tackles, including 5.5 for loss with a pair of sacks. He led the team in tackles in each of the final two games of the season, including a career-best 17 tackles in the Sun Devils’ win against Duke in the Sun Bowl. He made his first career start at Colorado on Sept. 13 and secured 10 tackles in the victory, and he added his first career touchdown against Oregon State on Nov. 15 with a 36-yard fumble recovery.
Carrington, a redshirt senior from Dallas, was also named to the watch list for the Bednarik Award, given to the college defensive player of the year. Simone, a redshirt senior from Sammamish, Wash., also earned a place on the watch list for the Thorpe Award, given to the nation’s most outstanding defensive back. Both student-athletes earned All-Pac-12 honorable mention recognition in 2014 and played a vital role in helping the defense lead the Pac-12 with 14 interceptions.
2015 Sun Devil Award Watch ListsButkus Award (nation’s most outstanding linebacker) – Antonio Longino
Nagurski Trophy (national defensive player of the year) – Lloyd Carrington, Jordan Simone
Thorpe Award (nation’s most outstanding defensive back) – Simone
Outland Trophy (nation’s most outstanding interior lineman) – Nick Kelly, Christian Westerman
Groza Award (nation’s top placekicker) – Zane GonzalezRimington Trophy (nation's top center) - Kelly
Maxwell Award (player of the year) – Mike Bercovici, D.J. Foster
Bednarik Award (college defensive player of the year) –Carrington
The Butkus Award is given to the nation’s most outstanding linebacker, and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy is awarded to the national defensive player of the year.
Carrington and Simone were not part of the initial Nagurski Watch List, which was announced on July 10, but the duo was added to the list on July 14.
Longino, a redshirt senior from Cleveland, ranked third on the team in 2014 with 94 tackles, including 5.5 for loss with a pair of sacks. He led the team in tackles in each of the final two games of the season, including a career-best 17 tackles in the Sun Devils’ win against Duke in the Sun Bowl. He made his first career start at Colorado on Sept. 13 and secured 10 tackles in the victory, and he added his first career touchdown against Oregon State on Nov. 15 with a 36-yard fumble recovery.
Carrington, a redshirt senior from Dallas, was also named to the watch list for the Bednarik Award, given to the college defensive player of the year. Simone, a redshirt senior from Sammamish, Wash., also earned a place on the watch list for the Thorpe Award, given to the nation’s most outstanding defensive back. Both student-athletes earned All-Pac-12 honorable mention recognition in 2014 and played a vital role in helping the defense lead the Pac-12 with 14 interceptions.
2015 Sun Devil Award Watch ListsButkus Award (nation’s most outstanding linebacker) – Antonio Longino
Nagurski Trophy (national defensive player of the year) – Lloyd Carrington, Jordan Simone
Thorpe Award (nation’s most outstanding defensive back) – Simone
Outland Trophy (nation’s most outstanding interior lineman) – Nick Kelly, Christian Westerman
Groza Award (nation’s top placekicker) – Zane GonzalezRimington Trophy (nation's top center) - Kelly
Maxwell Award (player of the year) – Mike Bercovici, D.J. Foster
Bednarik Award (college defensive player of the year) –Carrington
