Four D.C.-area college football defenders have been named to the watch list of the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, awarded to the nation's best defensive player (a category occupied by other awards, but none with quite such a spectacular name). Virginia Tech has two candidates - cornerback Kyle Fuller and linebacker Bruce Taylor, along with Virginia linebacker Steve Greer and Maryland defensive tackle Joe Vellano.
Fuller is a junior cornerback with 18.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions and 4.5 sacks in his career at Tech. Taylor is a redshirt senior with 150 total tackles and 11 sacks in his career. Greer is a redshirt senior and team captain who has led the Cavaliers in tackles in 2009 and '11. Vellano is a redshirt senior with 7.5 sacks and 18 tackles for a loss in his career.
Of the area teams, Virginia Tech has one previous Nagurski winner, linebacker Corey Moore in 1999.
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