LSU football continued to add more preseason accolades on Tuesday with three Tigers in Grant Delpit, Kristian Fulton, and Jacob Phillips being named to the Bronko Nagurski Award Watch List by the Football Writers Association of America.
The Nagurski Award is presented annually to the defensive player of the year in college football by the FWAA. Delpit was one of five finalists for the Nagurski Trophy last year and is the lone returner from the group back in 2019.
Delpit led the Southeastern Conference last season in interceptions (5) and ranked second in the league in passes defended (14). He also led the Tigers in sacks (5.0), finished third in tackles (74), and added another 10.5 tackles for loss on his way to becoming only the ninth unanimous All-American in school history.
Fulton returns for his second year as a starter at cornerback for the Tigers in 2019 after having a breakout season a year ago. Fulton is listed as the nation’s No. 3 rated defensive back by USA Today after recording 25 tackles, one interception, and 10 passes defended in 10 games in 2018.
Fulton missed the final three games of the 2018 season with an injury but is healthy and will be 100 percent once camp starts in early August.
Phillips returns to the program as the leading tackler for the Tigers, amassing 87 tackles to go along with 5.5 tackles for loss. He also returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown in LSU’s season-opening win over Miami.