Kansas State's Jahron McPherson Named Nagurski Player Of the Week

September 29, 2020 by FWAA

NOTE: CollegeFootballPoll.com's Dave Congrove is a nominating member of the Bronko Nagurski Trophy.

DALLAS (FWAA) – A career-high of 11 tackles, a forced fumble that led to a touchdown and a game-clinching interception by Kansas State safety Jahron McPherson each played a major role in the Wildcats' 38-35 win at No. 3 Oklahoma. His record day within Kansas State’s record day – beating a top-five opponent on the road for the first time – earned McPherson the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week honor for games in the weekend of Sept. 26, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

McPherson, a 6-1, 200-pound senior from Basehor, Kan., is the first Kansas State player since 2012 (cornerback Allen Chapman) to earn the Bronko Naguarski National Defensive Player of the Week honor and only the third all-time. He is the first Wildcat since at least 2002 to total double-digit tackles, a tackle-for-loss, a forced fumble and an interception in a single game.

His forced fumble in the third quarter in Oklahoma territory became another takeaway that led to K-State scoring on five straight second-half possessions. The Wildcats’ rally from a 21-point deficit, which McPherson closed with his interception with 34 seconds left, tied a school record. The 11 tackles nearly doubled his previous career high of six.

McPherson will be added to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List. No Kansas State player has won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, although four Wildcats have been finalists, most recently cornerback Terence Newman in 2002. Cornerback Chris Canty was a two-time finalist in 1995 and '96.

Kansas State hosts Texas Tech this Saturday at 2:30 p.m. on FS1.

Each Tuesday during the regular season, the FWAA has selected a Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week since 2001. The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce three finalists for the 2020 Bronko Nagurski Trophy later this season. The national defensive player of the year will be chosen from those finalists who are part of the 2020 FWAA All-America Team.

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. Nagurski dominated college football then became a star for professional football's Chicago Bears in the 1930s. Bronislaw "Bronko" Nagurski is a charter member of both the College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame.

Founded in 1941, the Football Writers Association of America consists of 1,400 men and women who cover college football. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include game-day operations, major awards and its annual All-America team.

About the Charlotte Touchdown Club
The Charlotte Touchdown Club is a non-profit organization founded in 1990 for the purpose of promoting high school, collegiate, and professional football in the Charlotte, N.C., region. The club's activities and services focus community attention on the outstanding citizenship, scholarship, sportsmanship, and leadership of area athletes and coaches. Since 1990, the club has raised more than $2 million to benefit area high school and collegiate athletics. For more information, contact John Rocco (704-347-2918 or jrocco@touchdownclub.com). The official website of the Charlotte Touchdown Club is touchdownclub.com.

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2020 Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Players of the Week
• Weekend of Sept. 5: Isaiah Kaufusi, LB, BYU
• Weekend of Sept. 12: Curtis Ryans, DE, Georgia Tech
• Weekend of Sept. 19: Tavante Beckett, LB, Marshall
• Weekend of Sept. 26: Jahron McPherson, S, Kansas State