11/15/2017 football Edit

Jewell named a finalist for Nagurski Trophy

Josey Jewell is one of five finalists for the 2017 Bronko Nagurski Trophy.

HawkeyeReport.com

Staff

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- University of Iowa senior linebacker Josey Jewell is one of five finalists for the 2017 Bronko Nagurski Trophy. The Nagurski Trophy is presented annually to the nation's most outstanding defensive player by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), and the Charlotte Touchdown Club. The Nagurski Trophy winner will be announced Dec. 4 at the Charlotte Touchdown Club awards banquet at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Jewell is joined as a finalist by defensive end Bradley Chubb of North Carolina State, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick of Alabama, defensive tackle Ed Oliver of Houston, and linebacker Roquan Smith of Georgia.

Jewell (6-foot-2, 236-pounds), a native of Decorah, Iowa, has played in nine of Iowa’s 10 games, leading the team with 104 tackles, which leads the Big Ten and is fourth in the nation. Jewell has led Iowa in tackles in each of the last two seasons (126 in 2015, 124 in 2016). He needs just 11 additional stops to become the third Hawkeye all-time to record 115 or more tackles in three seasons (Abdul Hodge, 2002-05, and Larry Station, 1983-85). His totals in 2017 include three sacks (24 yards), 9.5 tackles for loss, seven pass break-ups, one interception, one forced fumble, and one recovered fumble.

Jewell led the Hawkeyes with 12 tackles at Wisconsin, as he recorded 10 or tackles in a game for the 20th time in his career. His career total stands at 405 tackles, sixth all-time in program history.

Jewell is also one of 10 finalists for the Senior CLASS Award. He is a semifinalist for the Lott IMPACT Award, the Butkus Award and Bednarik Award. Jewell was named a midseason first-team All-American by five media outlets, and earlier in the season earned national award recognition for his play against Wyoming and Penn State.

Former Hawkeye linebacker Pat Angerer was a finalist for the Nagurski Trophy in 2009.

The Hawkeyes (6-4, 3-4) host Purdue (4-6, 2-5) on Saturday (2:40 p.m., BTN) as Iowa celebrates Senior Day. Tickets for Saturday’s game are available online at hawkeyesports.com or over the phone at (800) IA-HAWKS.