DALLAS – Texas A&M safety Marcus Ratcliffe was named to the Preseason Watch List for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, as announced by the Football Writers Association of America on Tuesday. The trophy is presented annually to the best defensive player in college football.
Ratcliffe, a native of Chula Vista, California, was named a captain ahead of the 2026 campaign and appeared in all 13 games last season, making 12 starts. He ranked second on the team with 65 tackles, while also totaling 3.0 tackles for loss and three pass breakups. Throughout two seasons in Aggieland, Ratcliffe has compiled 113 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, three pass breakups and three interceptions. Ratcliffe has produced five or more tackles in 12 games in the Maroon & White, including three games with a personal-best eight stops.
The preseason watch list features 68 defensive standouts representing 47 different schools in all 10 FBS conferences plus Independents. The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce finalists for the 2026 trophy on Nov. 19, while the winner will be revealed at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet on Dec. 7 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy, created in 1993, is awarded to the best defensive player in college football and is presented by the Charlotte Touchdown Club. The award was established to complement the Heisman Trophy Award, which at the time had never been presented to a defensive player.
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