Immanuel Bush Lands On 2025 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List

DALLAS - James Madison defensive lineman Immanuel Bush was selected to the 2025 Bronko Nagurski Watch List, as announced by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) on Tuesday afternoon.

The Nagurski Trophy is given jointly by the FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club every season to the nation's top defensive player across all of college football.

The 2025 preseason list consists of 60 standouts from around the country, which includes players from 41 different programs and three coming out of the Sun Belt Conference.

Bush is the second player in JMU football history to be named to the prestigious watch list, as James Carpenter was the first Duke to be considered for the award in 2023.

Also on Tuesday, Bush was named to the Outland Trophy Watch List, joining offensive lineman Pat McMurtrie as the only representatives from the Sun Belt.

Coming off a 2024 All-Sun Belt Honorable Mention campaign, the redshirt senior matched his single-season career high in total tackles (34) while registering 4.0 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one interception and one fumble recovery. He also garnered Preseason Second Team All-Sun Belt accolades, along with nods from Athlon Sports and Phil Steele.

Bush is joined on the list by All-American linebacker Jason Henderson from Old Dominion and Louisiana's defensive end Jordan Lawson, rounding out the three SBC honorees.

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. Bronislaw "Bronko" Nagurski is a charter member of both the College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame.

Four finalists will be named by the FWAA and Charlotte Touchdown Club for the Trophy in mid-to-late November, with the winner being unveiled at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet on Dec. 8 in Charlotte, N.C.

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