Three Oregon Ducks defenders , cornerback Brandon Finney Jr., safety Koi Perich, and defensive tackle A’Mauri Washington , were named to the prestigious Bronko Nagurski Award watch list on Tuesday. This annual honor, given since 1993, recognizes college football’s top defensive player, and get this: no Duck has ever taken home the trophy.
This Defensive Trio Is Absolutely Relentless
This is huge for the Ducks. Just a day earlier, quarterback Dante Moore landed on the Maxwell Award watch list for the nation’s best all-around player. Now, with a trio of defensive stars also recognized, Oregon is showing everyone they mean business on both sides of the ball. We’re talking about a serious chance for one of these guys to blast ahead and become a leading candidate for the 2026 Bronko Nagurski Award. Past winners like Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriguez in 2025, South Carolina’s Kyle Kennard in 2024, and Notre Dame’s Xavier Watts in 2023 set a high bar, but these Ducks look ready to meet it.
Finney, Washington, and Perich: The Breakdowns
Finney and Washington are both heading into their second seasons as starters, and man, did they impress early! They stepped into massive roles and absolutely excelled, flashing NFL-caliber talent every step of the way. Finney still has one season of eligibility after 2026, which is awesome, but A’Mauri Washington actually passed on the 2026 NFL Draft to run it back one more time in Eugene. That’s dedication! You know the Ducks’ defense is gonna be way better because of his decision. Then there’s Perich, a massive transfer who spent his first two seasons with the Minnesota Golden Gophers. He emerged as a total playmaker from safety, kickoff return, and even punt return spots. Now, with some of that workload off his plate on a much more talented defense, we could see even more of the high-level play Perich showcased when he was a Freshman All-American in 2024.
With Finney, Perich, and Washington leading the charge this fall, the Oregon defense is absolutely shaping up to be one of the best in the nation. It does not even matter if one of them wins the Nagurski Award; the talent is undeniable. Get ready for some serious defensive action from the Ducks.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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