Michigan State University Athletics
Xavier Henderson Named to Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List
7/26/2022 11:37:00 AM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State graduate safety Xavier Henderson has landed on his second preseason watch list this week, this time earning a spot on the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List, which is awarded annually by the Charlotte Touchdown Club to the nation's best defensive player.
On Monday, Henderson was named one of 35 players on the Jim Thorpe Award Watch List, given to the nation's best defensive back. He also has been named on the Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List.
A four-year letterwinner (2018-21), Henderson leads all active Spartans with 235 tackles, which ranks No. 43 in school history. He also has 12.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, three pass break-ups and two forced fumbles in 46 career games.
Henderson, who was named a game captain for all 13 games last season and helped lead MSU to an 11-2 record and a New Year's Six bowl win over No. 12 Pittsburgh in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, was a third-team All-Big Ten selection by the media after tying for the team lead with a career-high 96 tackles, including a career-best 10 tackles for loss and three sacks. His 96 stops ranked tied for 11th most in the Big Ten. Henderson recorded a TFL in nine games with a career-high two in the season opener at Northwestern. He also had a career-high 17 tackles vs. Nebraska, the most by a Spartan since 2016.
The Reynoldsburg, Ohio, native tallied 41 stops during his third season at MSU in a shortened seven-game schedule in 2020 and ranked second on the team with 83 tackles as a sophomore in 2019, including two interceptions and five pass break-ups. As a true freshman in 2018, he primarily played on special teams, collecting 15 tackles.
Henderson is one of 85 defensive standouts from across the country on the Nagurski Trophy Watch List. The Football Writers Association of America and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce finalists for the 2022 trophy on Nov. 16 and the winner will be unveiled Dec. 5 at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet in Charlotte, North Carolina.
On Monday, Henderson was named one of 35 players on the Jim Thorpe Award Watch List, given to the nation's best defensive back. He also has been named on the Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List.
A four-year letterwinner (2018-21), Henderson leads all active Spartans with 235 tackles, which ranks No. 43 in school history. He also has 12.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, three pass break-ups and two forced fumbles in 46 career games.
Henderson, who was named a game captain for all 13 games last season and helped lead MSU to an 11-2 record and a New Year's Six bowl win over No. 12 Pittsburgh in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, was a third-team All-Big Ten selection by the media after tying for the team lead with a career-high 96 tackles, including a career-best 10 tackles for loss and three sacks. His 96 stops ranked tied for 11th most in the Big Ten. Henderson recorded a TFL in nine games with a career-high two in the season opener at Northwestern. He also had a career-high 17 tackles vs. Nebraska, the most by a Spartan since 2016.
The Reynoldsburg, Ohio, native tallied 41 stops during his third season at MSU in a shortened seven-game schedule in 2020 and ranked second on the team with 83 tackles as a sophomore in 2019, including two interceptions and five pass break-ups. As a true freshman in 2018, he primarily played on special teams, collecting 15 tackles.
Henderson is one of 85 defensive standouts from across the country on the Nagurski Trophy Watch List. The Football Writers Association of America and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce finalists for the 2022 trophy on Nov. 16 and the winner will be unveiled Dec. 5 at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet in Charlotte, North Carolina.
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