UNC Football: Cedric Gray named to Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List

8/1/2023
The UNC football program’s star linebacker is earning some much-deserved recognition heading into the 2023 college football season.
Since 1993, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy has been awarded to the top defensive player in Division I college football.
This year, the UNC football program is represented on the preseason watch list, as senior linebacker Cedric Gray was among the 94 defensive standouts selected.
Gray put together a very strong junior season for the UNC football program, as he’s developed as the defensive leader over his career with the program. During the 2022 season, Gray recorded 146 tackles, which was the third-most by any player in the country.
Heading into his senior season, Gray not only looks to replicate his success from a season ago but looks to anchor a Tar Heels defense that hopes to improve as well. As defensive coordinator Gene Chizik embarks on his second year in the position, it certainly helps to know that Gray, one of the best overall defensive players in the country, will be leading his unit throughout the season.
For this award, the players’ performances each week matter. Players may be added or removed from the watch list during the course of the season, as there is also a National Defensive Player of the Week that is presented each Tuesday during the season. If the player who earns the weekly award is not already on the watch list, that player will be added to the watch list at that time.
Based on what we’ve seen from Cedric Gray during his time with the UNC football program, it wouldn’t be a surprise at all to see him end up being a very strong contender for this prestigious award.