Cisco Named to Nagurski Trophy Watch List

DALLAS – The preseason accolades continue to be heaped on Syracuse star Andre Cisco. The junior safety was named to the watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy on Tuesday, an award presented annually to the nation's top defensive player by the Charlotte Touchdown Club and the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA).

With Tuesday's announcement, Cisco is now on the watch lists for four of college football's premier awards. He is also a preseason candidate for the Lott IMPACT Trophy (defensive player of the year), Bednarik Award (defensive player of the year) and Jim Thorpe Award (best defensive back). He is one of seven players nationally and the only from an ACC school to be considered for all four awards.

The FBS leader with 12 career interceptions, Cisco ranks second among current FBS players in passes defended per game (1.27). In 22 games the past two seasons, Cisco has 125 career tackles, 28 passes defended, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery to go along with his 12 picks.

Cisco tallied 68 tackles and tied for the ACC lead with five interceptions in 2019 despite missing three games due to injury. He ranked fourth nationally in interceptions per game (0.6) and was an All-ACC Second Team selection.

The winner of the 2020 Bronko Nagurski Trophy will be chosen from a group of five finalists. The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the association's full membership, then selects a 26-man All-America Team and eventually the Nagurski Trophy winner, whom they regard as the best defensive player in college football.

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 the Chicago Bears in the 1930s. He is a charter member of both the College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame.

Members of the Orange football team are on campus working out. Syracuse is currently set to begin the 2020 campaign on Friday, Sept. 4 at Boston College.

Season tickets for Orange football are available now online at Cuse.com/tickets or by calling 888-DOME-TIX.

Syracuse Players on 2020 NCFAA Watch Lists
Bednarik Award: Andre Cisco
Jim Thorpe Award: Andre Cisco
Nagurski Trophy: Andre Cisco

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