TOLEDO, Ohio - University of Toledo junior defensive lineman Desjuan Johnson was named to the watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy today. The award is presented annually to the nation's top defensive player. Johnson is one of 90 players in the country to be named to the list, and one of only four from the Mid-American Conference. Johnson is also on the watch list for another national defensive player honor, the Chuck Bednarik Award.

Johnson had 27 tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks in six games in 2020, earning second-team All-MAC honors. In 2019, he had 32 tackles and 7.0 TFLs. He was named preseason first-team All-MAC by Athlon and Phil Steele magazines.

The Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner will be chosen from those five finalists and honored at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet presented by LendingTree on Dec. 6 at the Charlotte Convention Center. The Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) All-America Committee, after voting input from the association's full membership, selects a 26-man All-America Team and eventually the Nagurski Trophy finalists. Committee members, by individual ballot, select the winner they regard as the best defensive player in college football.