Jackson, Waggner named to watch lists

UT One of Six Programs With Lineman and Defensive Back On Nagurski List
 
DALLAS – Tennessee senior defensive lineman Malik Jackson and junior defensive back Prentiss Waggner were both named to prestigious national watch lists Friday. Jackson was selected to both the Bronko Nagurski and Outland Trophy Watch Lists, while Waggner earned a spot on the Nagurski list.
 
The Nagurski Trophy, presented by the Football Writers Association of America and the Charlotte Touchdown Club, honors the defensive player of the year. The Outland Trophy, selected by the FWAA, acknowledges the best interior lineman in college football.
 
With Jackson and Waggner on the Nagurski watch list, UT is one of just six programs in the country with a member of both the defensive line and secondary recognized. Both players, who earned Associated Press All-SEC Second Team honors in 2010, were among 19 SEC players and 87 overall student-athletes selected.
 
One of just two SEC defensive tackles and 16 overall eligible for the Outland Trophy, Jackson led the Vols’ defensive line with 48 tackles in 2010, including a team-high 11 tackles for loss. The Northridge, Calif., native also ranked second on the UT squad with five sacks and third with four pass break-ups and five quarterback hurries.
 
Jackson’s production exploded after moving inside to defensive tackle at Georgia (Oct. 9). In the final eight games, the senior recorded 36 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, all five of his sacks, three QB hurries, four passes defended and an interception.
 
Waggner, already selected to the watch lists for the Lott IMPACT Trophy and the Chuck Bednarik awards, also earned Scout.com second team All-America honors in 2010 and broke the UT season record for interceptions returned for touchdowns, taking an NCAA FBS-leading three to the end zone.
 
The Clinton, La., native tied for seventh in the FBS and first in the SEC with three recovered fumbles last season. He also tied for the team lead with five INTs and totaled 57 tackles, fifth-best on the Vols.
 
The Vols have seen two interior lineman win the prestigious Outland Trophy: offensive guard Steve DeLong in 1964 and defensive tackle John Henderson in 2000. Henderson was also a finalist in 2001.  Since the Nagurski Trophy was first presented in 1993, the Vols have had three finalists: Al Wilson (1998), John Henderson (2000) and Eric Berry (2009).
 
The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce five finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy on Nov. 17. The annual Bronko Nagurski Trophy Banquet will be on Dec. 12 at the Westin Hotel in Charlotte, N.C.
 
Three Outland Trophy Finalists will be chosen Nov. 21. The Outland Trophy, presented annually since 1946, is the third oldest award in major college football. The winner of the 66th Outland Trophy, named after the late John Outland, an All-America lineman at Penn and Kansas at the turn of the century, will be announced on The Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 8 on ESPN.
The Outland Trophy presentation banquet, sponsored by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee, will be held on Jan. 12, 2012, in Omaha, Neb.