Martin And Lewis Make Nagurski Watch List

News9.com

DALLAS – Oklahoma State safety Markelle Martin and Oklahoma linebacker Travis Lewis have both been named to the 2011 Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list that honors the nation's best defensive player.

Martin, a senior from Wichita Falls, Texas, missed the start of the season due to injury, but he started the final 11 games of the season for the Cowboys last year at safety. Last year he snagged three interceptions for a total of 62 yards and one touchdown, he also leads OSU leading returning tackler.

Lewis on the other hand has been Oklahoma's leading tackler for the past three seasons. The senior from San Antonio, Texas, enters the 2011 campaign with 362 career tackles, just 82 short of Oklahoma's career top 10 list.

The Football Writers Association of America will be laced with the task of narrowing down the list of 87 candidates to a group of 25, before the committee members will cut that list to five finalists.

The winner of the 2011 Bronko Nagurski Trophy will be announced on Nov. 17 and the annual banquet will be held on Dec. 12. Georgia head coach Mark Richt will be the keynote speaker at the banquet.

Previous Nagurski winners from Oklahoma include Roy Williams in 2001 and Derrick Strait in 2003.