KALAMAZOO, Mich. – For the first time in his career, Western Michigan senior linebacker Treshaun Hayward has been named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Preseason Watch List by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), in conjunction with the Charlotte Touchdown Club. The award honors the nation's top defensive player. Hayward is the first Bronco on the list since Ronald Zamort in 2015.
 
It is the second preseason watch list honor this year for Hayward, who is also on the Butkus Award's list. The Butkus Award is given annually to the top linebacker in the nation.
 
A preseason All-America selection by Phil Steele (4th team) and a first team All-Mid-American Conference honoree by Phil Steele and Athlon Sports, Hayward enters 2020 as one of two returning players who recorded 130 or more tackles and 10.0 or more tackles for lost yardage in 2019. The 6-1, 225-pound Ypsilanti, Mich., product owns 179 career tackles, 12.5 tackles for lost yardage, 5.0 sacks, one pass breakup, one caused fumble, two fumble recoveries and one quarterback pressures.
 
Hayward was heavily decorated in 2019, earning All-America selections by Sporting News (2nd team) and Phil Steele (4th team). He was also tabbed the MAC Defensive Player of the Year and the program's John Offerdahl Outstanding Defensive Player award as Western Michigan's top defensive player. Hayward picked up a pair of MAC West Division Defensive Player of the Week accolades following performances against Georgia State and Bowling Green. During the season, Hayward played in all 13 games and started the final 11. He compiled 142 tackles, 10.5 TFL, 5.0 sacks, one PBU, one caused fumble, one fumble recovery and one quarterback pressure. Within the MAC, Hayward ranked first in total tackles, second in tackles per game (10.92), tied for 10th in sacks and tied for 10th in sacks per game (0.38).
 
Players may be added or removed from the watch list during the season. As in previous years, the FWAA will announce a National Defensive Player of the Week each Tuesday this season. If not already on the watch list, each week's honored player will be added at that time.
 
The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the association's full membership, will select a 26-man All-America Team and eventually the five Nagurski Trophy finalists. From those finalists, committee members by individual ballot will select the winner of the 2020 Bronko Nagurski Trophy presented by LendingTree.
 
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 the college and pro football halls of fame.
 
Western Michigan Players on 2020 NCFAA Watch Lists
Biletnikoff Award: Skyy Moore
Butkus Award: Treshaun Hayward
Nagurski Trophy: Treshaun Hayward
 
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