Eastern Michigan Athletics
Llewellyn Earns Spot on Bronko Nagurski Trophy Preseason Watch List
8/4/2026 12:00:00 PM | Football
EMU defensive back becomes first Eagle named to the prestigious preseason list since 2019
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- Eastern Michigan University football defensive back Bryce Llewellyn (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral/Charleston Southern) has been named to the 2026 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Preseason Watch List, the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) announced today, Aug. 4. The award is presented annually to the nation's top defensive player in college football.
Llewellyn is one of 68 players nationwide selected to the preseason watch list and one of only two Mid-American Conference representatives, joining Western Michigan nickel back Josh Franklin.
The honor continues a strong tradition for Eastern Michigan's defense. Llewellyn is the first Eagle named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Preseason Watch List since defensive back Kevin McGill in 2019. He joins former EMU standouts Maxx Crosby (2018) and Pat O'Connor (2015) as the program's preseason selections over the past decade.
A team captain for the 2026 campaign, Llewellyn enters the season following one of the top defensive performances in the Mid-American Conference in 2025. He earned the John E. Borowiec Award as Eastern Michigan's Most Valuable Defensive Player and became the first Eagle defensive back to receive All-MAC honors since Noski LaFleur earned First Team recognition in 2020.
Llewellyn led the Eagles with 103 total tackles, including 42 solo stops and 61 assisted tackles, while adding two interceptions and 5.0 tackles for loss. His 8.5 tackles per game ranked 36th nationally and sixth in the MAC. He posted double-digit tackles in three contests, recording 11 against Louisiana, 12 at Central Michigan, and a career-high 13 versus Ohio. He also registered a career-best eight solo tackles against Miami and finished fourth on the team with 5.0 tackles for loss.
Llewellyn became the first Eastern Michigan defender to eclipse the 100-tackle mark in a season since Chase Kline recorded 143 tackles in 2023. He also led the Eagles with two interceptions and recorded at least one-half tackle for loss in six games, including a career-high 1.5 against Northern Illinois.
By position, the list has 21 linebackers, 16 safeties (including one designated nickel back), 13 defensive ends, 10 defensive tackles and eight cornerbacks.
The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce the finalists for the 2026 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Nov. 19. The winner will be honored Dec. 7 at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet in Charlotte, N.C. Players remain eligible to be added to or removed from the watch list throughout the season.
Established in 1993 and named in honor of legendary two-way player Bronko Nagurski in 1995, the award recognizes the nation's premier defensive player in Football Bowl Subdivision football. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is one of the National College Football Awards Association's most prestigious honors.
Sixteen NCFAA members are unveiling preseason watch lists over a three-week period as the association spearheads a coordinated effort to promote each award's preseason candidates. Following is the remaining 2026 preseason watch list calendar:
Wed., Aug. 5: John Mackey Award
Thu., Aug. 6: Rimington Trophy
Fri., Aug. 7: Lou Groza Award
Mon., Aug. 10: Paul Hornung Award
Tue., Aug. 11: Allstate Wuerffel Trophy
Wed., Aug. 12: Paycom Jim Thorpe Award
Thu., Aug. 13: Butkus Award
Fri., Aug. 14: Ray Guy Award
Mon., Aug. 17: Walter Camp Award
Tue., Aug. 18: Doak Walker Award
Wed., Aug. 19: Biletnikoff Award
Thu., Aug. 20: Davey O'Brien Award
Fri., Aug. 21: Bednarik Award
For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit NCFAA.org or follow on X at @NCFAA and Instagram @TheNCFAA.
Llewellyn is one of 68 players nationwide selected to the preseason watch list and one of only two Mid-American Conference representatives, joining Western Michigan nickel back Josh Franklin.
The honor continues a strong tradition for Eastern Michigan's defense. Llewellyn is the first Eagle named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Preseason Watch List since defensive back Kevin McGill in 2019. He joins former EMU standouts Maxx Crosby (2018) and Pat O'Connor (2015) as the program's preseason selections over the past decade.
A team captain for the 2026 campaign, Llewellyn enters the season following one of the top defensive performances in the Mid-American Conference in 2025. He earned the John E. Borowiec Award as Eastern Michigan's Most Valuable Defensive Player and became the first Eagle defensive back to receive All-MAC honors since Noski LaFleur earned First Team recognition in 2020.
Llewellyn led the Eagles with 103 total tackles, including 42 solo stops and 61 assisted tackles, while adding two interceptions and 5.0 tackles for loss. His 8.5 tackles per game ranked 36th nationally and sixth in the MAC. He posted double-digit tackles in three contests, recording 11 against Louisiana, 12 at Central Michigan, and a career-high 13 versus Ohio. He also registered a career-best eight solo tackles against Miami and finished fourth on the team with 5.0 tackles for loss.
Llewellyn became the first Eastern Michigan defender to eclipse the 100-tackle mark in a season since Chase Kline recorded 143 tackles in 2023. He also led the Eagles with two interceptions and recorded at least one-half tackle for loss in six games, including a career-high 1.5 against Northern Illinois.
By position, the list has 21 linebackers, 16 safeties (including one designated nickel back), 13 defensive ends, 10 defensive tackles and eight cornerbacks.
The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce the finalists for the 2026 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Nov. 19. The winner will be honored Dec. 7 at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet in Charlotte, N.C. Players remain eligible to be added to or removed from the watch list throughout the season.
Established in 1993 and named in honor of legendary two-way player Bronko Nagurski in 1995, the award recognizes the nation's premier defensive player in Football Bowl Subdivision football. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is one of the National College Football Awards Association's most prestigious honors.
Sixteen NCFAA members are unveiling preseason watch lists over a three-week period as the association spearheads a coordinated effort to promote each award's preseason candidates. Following is the remaining 2026 preseason watch list calendar:
Wed., Aug. 5: John Mackey Award
Thu., Aug. 6: Rimington Trophy
Fri., Aug. 7: Lou Groza Award
Mon., Aug. 10: Paul Hornung Award
Tue., Aug. 11: Allstate Wuerffel Trophy
Wed., Aug. 12: Paycom Jim Thorpe Award
Thu., Aug. 13: Butkus Award
Fri., Aug. 14: Ray Guy Award
Mon., Aug. 17: Walter Camp Award
Tue., Aug. 18: Doak Walker Award
Wed., Aug. 19: Biletnikoff Award
Thu., Aug. 20: Davey O'Brien Award
Fri., Aug. 21: Bednarik Award
For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit NCFAA.org or follow on X at @NCFAA and Instagram @TheNCFAA.
Players Mentioned
DB
/ FootballThursday, July 23
Thursday, July 23
Thursday, July 23
Wednesday, July 22