UGA Football: Jordan Davis Named Nagurski Trophy Finalist
ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia senior lineman Jordan Davis has been named one of three finalists for the 2021 Bronko Nagurski Trophy, given annually to the nation’s top defensive player by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and the Charlotte Touchdown Club.
Davis, a native of Charlotte, N.C., joins Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr., and Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux as the finalists. They represent the top three teams in the current College Football Playoff rankings.
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy Banquet will be held on Dec. 6 at the Charlotte Convention Center.
Davis has helped top-ranked Georgia (10-0, 8-0 SEC) lead the nation in scoring defense (7.6 points per game), rank second nationally in rushing defense (78.2 yards per game) and total defense (247.0 ypg). He anchors the interior line with 23 tackles and 3.5 sacks. Opponents have scored just 76 points on the Bulldogs, and no team has registered more than 17 points.
Former Bulldog and Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive back Champ Bailey has been Georgia’s only winner of the Nagurski Trophy in 1998. Counting Davis, Georgia has had a finalist in three of the last five seasons, joining safety J.R. Reed in 2019 and linebacker Roquan Smith in 2017. Also, linebacker Justin Houston (2010) and lineman David Pollack (2002 & 2004) were finalists.
Also, Davis is a semifinalist for the 2021 Walter Camp Player of the Year Award and among the semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award, which is given to the outstanding defensive player of the year. He is a finalist for the Senior CLASS (Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School) Award. Fan voting for the CLASS award is open through Dec. 20th. https://www.seniorclassaward.com/vote/football_2021
The No. 1 Bulldogs play host to Charleston Southern (4-5) on Saturday at noon (ESPN+).