Michigan State University Athletics
Photo by: Matthew Mitchell Photography
Williams Tabbed To Outland Award Watch List, Bachie and Willekes On Nagurski Watch List
7/23/2019 3:33:00 PM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State defensive tackle Raequan Williams has been named to the 2019 Outland Award Watch List, while linebacker Joe Bachie and defensive end Kenny Willekes are on the 2019 Nagurski Award Watch List, which were both announced Tuesday by the Football Writers Association of America.
Williams is one of 83 players for the Outland Trophy, honoring the nation's top interior lineman.
Bachie and Willekes are two of 92 players on the list for the Nagurski Award, recognizing the top defensive player of the year.
This is Williams' first preseason award watch list, while Bachie was on the Butkus Award Watch List, and both Bachie and Willekes were on the Bednarik Award Watch List.
Williams has started 29 consecutive games, tied for the longest streak on the team, dating back to the Ohio State game on Nov. 19, 2016. He is a big reason why MSU ranked No. 1 in the FBS in rushing defense in 2018 and ranked No. 2 in 2017.
A first-team All-Big Ten selection by The Associated Press, Williams recorded career bests in tackles (53), tackles for loss (10.5) and pass break-ups (5) in 2018. Williams was also named third-team All-Big Ten by the Big Ten coaches, media, Athlon Sports and Phil Steele. He also earned the MSU Outstanding Underclass Lineman Award for defense and was also the recipient of the MSU Iron Man Award for the second year in a row.
The Chicago native ranks second among active Spartans with 21.5 career tackles for loss, including 6.5 career sacks, in 37 career games.
Bachie, who has started 26 consecutive games at middle linebacker, has been named to numerous preseason All-America lists, including first-team recognition from Athlon Sports and Phil Steele. The Spartan senior linebacker also earned Preseason All-Big Ten accolades and named to the Butkus Award and Bednarik Award Watch Lists.
He has led the Spartans in tackles the past two seasons (100 in 2017; 102 in 2018) and last year he became the third Spartan middle linebacker under Mark Dantonio, joining Greg Jones and Max Bullough, to earn first-team All-Big Ten honors.
Â
A consistent playmaker, Bachie had 8.5 tackles for loss, five pass break-ups, three forced fumbles, one interception and one fumble recovery during his junior campaign. He earned the Downtown Coaches Club Award for the most outstanding Spartan player on defense.
Â
The Brook Park, Ohio, product started all 13 games at middle linebacker as a sophomore for the Spartans in 2017. He led the team in tackles (100; 7.7 avg.) and was named the recipient of the 2017 Governor's Award, which is given annually to the program's most valuable player as voted on by the team. He was the first Spartan sophomore to win the Governor's Award since quarterback Drew Stanton in 2004.
Â
In 32 career games, Bachie has 214 tackles, 19.0 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, four interceptions, seven pass break-ups, five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He previously was named to the Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List in May.
Willekes, who entered the program as a walk-on linebacker for the 2015 season, has emerged as one of the top pass rushers in the nation. Unfortunately, he suffered a broken fibula in the Redbox Bowl against Oregon, but he will be fully recovered in time for the 2019 season.
Â
A 6-foot-4, 260-pound native of Rockford, Michigan, Willekes collected a league-best 20.5 tackles for loss in 2018, good for second most in a Spartan single season and eighth most in the FBS in 2018. He also led the Spartans with 8.5 sacks, which ranked tied for fifth in the Big Ten. He registered a career-high 78 tackles to rank first among all defensive lineman in the nation, including a career-high 13 against Ohio State on Nov. 10.
Â
According to Pro Football Focus, Willekes led all edge rushers in the FBS with 23 quarterback hits and ranked sixth with 39 QB hurries. Willekes was also the highest-ranked Big Ten edge rusher with a 90.3 grade.
Â
At the 2018 Spartan Football Awards banquet on Nov. 25, Willekes was named the recipient of the Governor's Award (MVP), becoming the first Spartan defensive end to win the honor since its inception in 1931.
Â
A chemistry major, Willekes earned a scholarship in the spring of 2017 and hasn't looked back since. He is MSU's active leader in sacks (10th in school history with 15.5) and tackles for loss (ninth in school history with 35.0). He ranks among the active career leaders in the FBS in tackles for loss (second at 1.30 per game).
The Spartan senior defensive end also earned Preseason All-Big Ten accolades and was named to the Bednarik Award Watch List.
Â
Willekes has been honored on several preseason All-America teams, including first-team accolades from Athlon Sports, Phil Steele, Sporting News and Street & Smith's.
Â
Williams is one of 83 players for the Outland Trophy, honoring the nation's top interior lineman.
Bachie and Willekes are two of 92 players on the list for the Nagurski Award, recognizing the top defensive player of the year.
This is Williams' first preseason award watch list, while Bachie was on the Butkus Award Watch List, and both Bachie and Willekes were on the Bednarik Award Watch List.
Williams has started 29 consecutive games, tied for the longest streak on the team, dating back to the Ohio State game on Nov. 19, 2016. He is a big reason why MSU ranked No. 1 in the FBS in rushing defense in 2018 and ranked No. 2 in 2017.
A first-team All-Big Ten selection by The Associated Press, Williams recorded career bests in tackles (53), tackles for loss (10.5) and pass break-ups (5) in 2018. Williams was also named third-team All-Big Ten by the Big Ten coaches, media, Athlon Sports and Phil Steele. He also earned the MSU Outstanding Underclass Lineman Award for defense and was also the recipient of the MSU Iron Man Award for the second year in a row.
The Chicago native ranks second among active Spartans with 21.5 career tackles for loss, including 6.5 career sacks, in 37 career games.
Bachie, who has started 26 consecutive games at middle linebacker, has been named to numerous preseason All-America lists, including first-team recognition from Athlon Sports and Phil Steele. The Spartan senior linebacker also earned Preseason All-Big Ten accolades and named to the Butkus Award and Bednarik Award Watch Lists.
He has led the Spartans in tackles the past two seasons (100 in 2017; 102 in 2018) and last year he became the third Spartan middle linebacker under Mark Dantonio, joining Greg Jones and Max Bullough, to earn first-team All-Big Ten honors.
Â
A consistent playmaker, Bachie had 8.5 tackles for loss, five pass break-ups, three forced fumbles, one interception and one fumble recovery during his junior campaign. He earned the Downtown Coaches Club Award for the most outstanding Spartan player on defense.
Â
The Brook Park, Ohio, product started all 13 games at middle linebacker as a sophomore for the Spartans in 2017. He led the team in tackles (100; 7.7 avg.) and was named the recipient of the 2017 Governor's Award, which is given annually to the program's most valuable player as voted on by the team. He was the first Spartan sophomore to win the Governor's Award since quarterback Drew Stanton in 2004.
Â
In 32 career games, Bachie has 214 tackles, 19.0 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, four interceptions, seven pass break-ups, five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He previously was named to the Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List in May.
Willekes, who entered the program as a walk-on linebacker for the 2015 season, has emerged as one of the top pass rushers in the nation. Unfortunately, he suffered a broken fibula in the Redbox Bowl against Oregon, but he will be fully recovered in time for the 2019 season.
Â
A 6-foot-4, 260-pound native of Rockford, Michigan, Willekes collected a league-best 20.5 tackles for loss in 2018, good for second most in a Spartan single season and eighth most in the FBS in 2018. He also led the Spartans with 8.5 sacks, which ranked tied for fifth in the Big Ten. He registered a career-high 78 tackles to rank first among all defensive lineman in the nation, including a career-high 13 against Ohio State on Nov. 10.
Â
According to Pro Football Focus, Willekes led all edge rushers in the FBS with 23 quarterback hits and ranked sixth with 39 QB hurries. Willekes was also the highest-ranked Big Ten edge rusher with a 90.3 grade.
Â
At the 2018 Spartan Football Awards banquet on Nov. 25, Willekes was named the recipient of the Governor's Award (MVP), becoming the first Spartan defensive end to win the honor since its inception in 1931.
Â
A chemistry major, Willekes earned a scholarship in the spring of 2017 and hasn't looked back since. He is MSU's active leader in sacks (10th in school history with 15.5) and tackles for loss (ninth in school history with 35.0). He ranks among the active career leaders in the FBS in tackles for loss (second at 1.30 per game).
The Spartan senior defensive end also earned Preseason All-Big Ten accolades and was named to the Bednarik Award Watch List.
Â
Willekes has been honored on several preseason All-America teams, including first-team accolades from Athlon Sports, Phil Steele, Sporting News and Street & Smith's.
Â
Players Mentioned
Pat Fitzgerald | Signing Day Press Conference | Feb. 4 2026
Wednesday, February 04
A New Era | Pat Fitzgerald's First Day in East Lansing
Wednesday, December 03
Pat Fitzgerald | Football Press Conference | Dec. 2nd, 2025
Tuesday, December 02
Jonathan Smith Postgame Comments | Maryland
Saturday, November 29