Sandwiched between Big Ten media days and the start of the college football season are not only preseason camp at Ohio State, but also most of the preseason watch lists for all the awards are released.
We've heard from quite a few of the organizations that release these sorts of things, and almost always, there will be a little scarlet and gray flair to them, and that's exactly what we are seeing. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is handed out by the Football Writers Association of America to the best defensive player in college football annually, and two Ohio State players were among the names appearing on its preseason watch list.
Defensive back Jaylen McClain and defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr. were the two Buckeyes who made the cut, and for good reason. McClain has a tremendous upside and is getting a lot of preseason buzz for what he might mean for the back end of the OSU defense this year. He wasn't one of the main stars of the defense last year but has experienced playing time and should be one of the main playmakers in 2026.
It was welcome news when Jackson decided to come back for one more season rather than enter the NFL draft. He'll be counted on to come off the edge as a pass rusher and run stopper and was a handful toward the tail end of the season. He only tallied 16 tackles, including 6.5 sacks officially, but he was consistently getting into the backfield last year.
Among the nation’s best. 🛡️@Jaylenmcclain08 and @kjacksonjr_ have been named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Preseason Watch List. pic.twitter.com/kiVkC2bLtP
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) August 4, 2026
Only two Ohio State players have won the Bronko Nagurski. James Laurinaitis (2006) and Chase Young (2019) took it home despite the Trophy being around since 1993. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy will be announced during an awards banquet on December 7.
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Two Ohio State players make Bronko Nagurski preseason watch list