FB's Keaton Thomas Named to Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List

DALLAS – Baylor football linebacker Keaton Thomas has been named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List, as announced Tuesday by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA).

Thomas is one of 60 defensive standouts named a contender for the national defensive player of the year. The list includes representation from 41 different schools across eight Division I FBS conferences plus Independents. By position, the list includes 21 linebackers, 11 defensive ends/edge rushers, 10 cornerbacks, 10 defensive tackles and eight safeties.

A product of Jacksonville, Fla., Thomas is one of 10 defensive players from the Big 12 included on the Nagurski Trophy watch list. He earned first-team All-Big 12 honors in his debut season with BU in 2024, starting all 13 games at inside linebacker and racking up 114 tackles, including seven for a loss and 2.5 sacks. Thomas added three quarterback hurries and returned an interception for a touchdown. He logged four games with double-digit tackles and teamed with Matt Jones to become the first Baylor linebacker duo since 2012 to each eclipse 100 tackles in a season. Thomas' 114 stops ranked 25^th in the nation a year ago.

Already a preseason All-American by multiple publications, Thomas has also been selected as a preseason All-Big 12 member by various outlets. This is his first-career preseason award watch list inclusion.

The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce four finalists for the 2025 Bronko Nagurski Trophy in mid-to-late November, and the winner will be revealed at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet on Dec. 8 in Charlotte, N.C.

The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football's most prestigious awards. 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.

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BAYLOR FOOTBALL 2025 PRESEASON HONORS
Omar Aigbedion, OG
Preseason First-Team All-Big 12 (Phil Steele)
Preseason Second-Team All-Big 12 (Athlon, Pick Six Previews)
Preseason Second-Team All-Texas (DCTF)

Travion Barnes, LB
Preseason Second-Team All-Texas (DCTF)
Preseason Third-Team All-Big 12 (Phil Steele)
Preseason Fourth-Team All-Big 12 (Athlon)

Josh Cameron, WR/PR
Preseason First-Team All-America, PR (Athlon)
Preseason All-Big 12, PR/KR (Big 12 Media)
Preseason First-Team All-Texas, WR (DCTF)
Preseason First-Team All-Big 12, WR (Pick Six Previews)
Preseason Second-Team All-Big 12, WR (Athlon, Phil Steele)
Preseason Second-Team All-Big 12, PR (Phil Steele)

Sidney Fugar, OL
Preseason Third-Team All-Big 12 (Pick Six Previews)
Preseason Fourth-Team All-Big 12 (Phil Steele)

Caden Jenkins, CB
Preseason Fourth-Team All-Big 12 (Athlon)

Ryan Lengyel, OL
Preseason Fourth-Team All-Big 12 (Athlon)

Jackie Marshall, DL
Preseason Second-Team All-Big 12 (Athlon, Pick Six Previews)
Preseason Second-Team All-Texas (DCTF)
Preseason Third-Team All-Big 12 (Phil Steele)

Coleton Price, OL
Preseason Fourth-Team All-Big 12 (Athlon)

Sawyer Robertson, QB
Maxwell Award Watch List
Preseason First-Team All-Big 12 (Phil Steele)
Preseason Second-Team All-Texas (DCTF)
Preseason Third-Team All-Big 12 (Athlon, Pick Six Previews)

Keaton Thomas, LB
Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List
Preseason Fourth-Team All-America (Athlon, Phil Steele, Pick Six Previews)
Preseason All-Big 12 (Big 12 Media)
Preseason First-Team All-Big 12 (Athlon, Phil Steele, Pick Six Previews)
Preseason First-Team All-Texas (DCTF)

Michael Trigg, TE
Preseason Second-Team All-Big 12 (Athlon, Pick Six Previews))
Preseason Third-Team All-Big 12 (Phil Steele)

Devin Turner, S
Preseason Fourth-Team All-Big 12 (Pick Six Previews)

Bryson Washington, RB
Maxwell Award Watch List
Preseason Third-Team All-America (Athlon)
Preseason All-Big 12 (Big 12 Media)
Preseason First-Team All-Big 12 (Athlon, Phil Steele, Pick Six Previews)
Preseason First-Team All-Texas (DCTF)

Palmer Williams, P
Preseason Second-Team All-America (Phil Steele)
Preseason Third-Team All-America (Athlon)
Preseason All-Big 12 (Big 12 Media)
Preseason First-Team All-Big 12 (Athlon, Phil Steele)

-BaylorBears.com-

FB's Keaton Thomas Named to Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List

Players Mentioned

Omar Aigbedion

Travion Barnes

Josh Cameron

Sidney Fugar

Matt Jones

Ryan Lengyel

Jackie Marshall

Coleton Price

Sawyer Robertson

Keaton Thomas

Michael Trigg

Devin Turner

Bryson Washington

Palmer Williams

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