Thursday, November 15, 2007

Talib named one of five finalists for Nagurski award

By J-W Staff Reports

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Kansas Universiy junior cornerback Aqib Talib on Thursday was named one of five finalists for the 2007 Bronko Nagurski award, which is given annually to the nation's top defensive player.

The other four finalists are Ohio State junior linebacker James Laurinaitis, LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, Virginia defensive end Chris Long and South Florida defensive end George Selvie.

The winner will be announced and presented with the Broko Nagurski Trophy on Dec. 3 at a banquet at the Westin Hotel in Charlotte, N.C. Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer will give the keynote address.

Talib is also one of the 15 players on the Walter Camp College Player of the Year Watch list. He's also a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation's best defensive back.

Talib is tied for fifth in the nation with 16 passes defended, and is tied with safety Justin Thornton for the team lead in interceptions with four. His pick last week of Oklahoma State's Zac Robinson helped seal KU's 43-20 win in Stillwater, Okla., making the Jayhawks 10-0 for the first time since 1899.

No. 3 KU will go for its first ever 11-win season this Saturday on Senior Day, when Iowa State rolls into town for a 2:30 p.m. kickoff at Memorial Stadium. That game will be televised regionally by ABC.

Comments

txrockchalk (anonymous) says...

Okay, who else needs convincing Aqib is not one of the top players in college football? Perhaps if he works on his "pass deffending" between now and Dec. 1st, he will have a shot at some of these awards ;)

November 15, 2007 at 12:41 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

tdub (anonymous) says...

It seems, given he is the only DB up for this award, that he may be a shoe-in for the Thorpe award. Dorsey will clean house on the overall defensive player awards. Is there any doubt Talib will be playing a day later next season?

November 15, 2007 at 1:15 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kranny (anonymous) says...

If you're refering to being burned by Webb and Purify, that happens to all the great ones who play tight, aggressive pass defense. Sometimes you have to take a risk to get respect. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

November 15, 2007 at 1:17 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

bmcmich1 (anonymous) says...

tdub, there is a slight possibility that Aqib will still be in Jayhawk blue next season. He hasn't ruled out staying for his senior season, and has been quoted to that effect. Of course, take that with a grain of salt...

kranny, you are absolutely right--CB is one of the hardest positions to play in all of sport. You have to be a risk-taker to even make spectacular plays in the first place, and by doing that you are bound to get burnt a time or two. the folks who say "I'd like to see Talib work on his pass defending a little more" obviously have no clue about the game of football. We have one of the best in #3.

November 15, 2007 at 1:23 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

sevenyearhawk (anonymous) says...

And the accolades continue to roll in ...

I hear Chris Long is a darn good football player, but might just a little bit of that be because of the family name?

You do realize his dad is HOWIE Long ... I wonder if Al Davis will draft him?

November 15, 2007 at 1:54 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

killabees (anonymous) says...

Congrats Aqib!

That's some pretty heady company, and its great to have standout players from KU, it lets future players know that they can do the same if they play for the Crimson and Blue.

November 15, 2007 at 2:13 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

vmyers (anonymous) says...

You guys do know that the KU-OSU game was 43-28, not 42-20, right? I thought it was just a typo here, but the Kream Keagan page says the 42-17 prediction was four points off.

November 15, 2007 at 2:43 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

plasticJHawk (anonymous) says...

They might as well go ahead and give the Nagurski award to Glenn Dorsey. But if Aqib can finish strong there's a good chance he'll be taking home the Thorpe!

Way to go Aqib, keep it up, and please take a couple passes from Chase Daniel and Sam Bradford!

Also Bret Meyer or whoever's playing for ISU these days

November 15, 2007 at 2:46 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Lebowski (anonymous) says...

Exactly Kranny. And the plays Purify made were some pretty spectacular catches against pretty tight coverage. Another thing about a DB like Talib is that he'll often be put on an island to defend someone who would normally be double-teamed just because he is as good as he is.

November 15, 2007 at 2:58 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

seattlehawk_78 (anonymous) says...

It's nice to have Aqib and Todd's names mentioned for prestigious awards but I think The Man is our best chance for actually winning a national award.

November 15, 2007 at 3:16 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

txrockchalk (anonymous) says...

seattle, you are probably right as far as who has the best shot of winning one, but I seriously think Aqib has a really good chance at the Jim Thorpe Award.

November 15, 2007 at 3:22 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

KURiggins (anonymous) says...

How long will it take for KU to win those awards? How stupid can the media get? Real STUPID is the answer. Who has meant more to their team than Todd Reesing, or for that matter Aqib Talib. Todd should win the O' Brien and be at least Top 3 for the Heisman because of his impact to the team(which is suppose to be a big part of Heisman voting) ...but these are the same IDIOTS who once gave the Heisman to O.J. instead of Gale Sayers..Yeah, good call on that one. And your going to tell me there is not a bias for SEC or Pac 10 teams. Give me a break! Tim Teacup should not get it.. Florida was good last year with Chris Leak. If KU is going to get respect, we must beat everyone in our path. I believe we are going to do it. Maybe then, these guys can get some respect!! For God's sake. Mangino for Coach of the Year, Reesing for O' Brien and Talib for everything else

November 15, 2007 at 3:26 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

seattlehawk_78 (anonymous) says...

I won't be disappointed if none of them win. It's nice that their names are being tossed around and the publicity we are receiving is good for the program. As much as I like basketball I'm getting a lot more pleasure following the football team. Perhaps it is because my expectations are not as high but this has been one magical season and when it is over I will have a hard time waiting for next season to start.

Bring on Iowa State.

November 15, 2007 at 4:01 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jhwkfan162515 (anonymous) says...

Maybe these guys are better off getting snubbed for these awards. That would make it easier for Mark Mangino to keep their heads from getting as big as his belly, and to keep them "sawing wood".

November 15, 2007 at 4:03 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

CasperCorps (anonymous) says...

Now thats a football players name.. Bronco Nagurski..

November 15, 2007 at 4:11 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

ESUjayhawk (anonymous) says...

txrockchalk....
Aqib is one the best players in the country and definately the best at his position... Last season he led the nation in INTs... You dont think teams, maybe a little, plan around throwing to his side... he gets less action than most and EVERY good corner gets beat a few times... like kranny said, those were very athletic plays they had to make in order to score and were usually one-on-one instead of being double teamed like they usually are

November 15, 2007 at 4:45 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

scootja32 (anonymous) says...

OJ Simpson was better than Gale Sayers in college

November 15, 2007 at 4:51 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

txrockchalk (anonymous) says...

ESU, my post at the top of this article is trying to point out the ridiculousness of Aqib not being considered one of the best players in the country. Please see my 10:51am post from yesterday:

http://www2.kusports.com/news/2007/no...

Also, see my 3:22pm post in this "Talib named one of five finalists for Nagurski award" article today.

Bottom line, I am in complete agreement with you.

November 15, 2007 at 5:02 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

scootja32 (anonymous) says...

Not to mention OJ and Gale did not go to college at the same time. So what are you talking about Riggins?

November 15, 2007 at 5:09 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

drum1984 (anonymous) says...

txrockchalk - I guess no one else on this site understands sarcasm, " "or ;)

November 15, 2007 at 5:20 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

seattlehawk_78 (anonymous) says...

Really tex, I'm getting fed up with your negative... never mind.

November 15, 2007 at 5:39 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jayhawkintx73 (anonymous) says...

just FYI, Reesing leads in the Fan Voting for the Obrien Award over Tim Tebow. Sunday the field is narrowed to 3 finalists. Reesing will be one of those finalists.

November 15, 2007 at 6:39 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

bmcmich1 (anonymous) says...

Oregon down 20 in the 2nd...

November 15, 2007 at 9:15 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

scootja32 (anonymous) says...

this is amazing.

November 15, 2007 at 9:17 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

lance1jhawk (anonymous) says...

Movin on up!! barring a complete melt down in the second half by zona

November 15, 2007 at 9:37 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

scootja32 (anonymous) says...

CRAP!!!!

Now KU will be the dreaded #2 team

or is it AP then it's Oklahoma phew

November 15, 2007 at 10:22 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

plasticJHawk (anonymous) says...

If you wanted an opportunity to watch Oregon and see how much Dennis Dixon means to that team then tonight was the night. He went out with an injury and they fell apart.

November 15, 2007 at 10:25 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

okjhok (anonymous) says...

Actually, fan voting is only worth 5% of the Obrien award. Sparky is going to need a big day Saturday to make it into the top 3.

November 16, 2007 at 5:18 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

txrockchalk (anonymous) says...

drum and seattle: ** BIG SMILE **

November 16, 2007 at 6:58 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

KURiggins (anonymous) says...

I am well aware OJ and Gale were in college at different times. OJ was a rookie in 1970 and Gale in 1965. I do not know how you say OJ was better than Gale in College, give me a break. Here's one for you Scoota. Who went 99yards against Nebraska? Not OJ I can tell ya that much

November 16, 2007 at 8:42 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

KURiggins (anonymous) says...

The point is to illustrate how there is a definite bias when it comes to Heisman voting. Had Gale had USC, Oklahoma or even Texas on his jersey he would have won the Heisman. Not because his skills had changed but because of the college. KU has great players, the media needs to stop qualifying it. Saying we have blue collar guys who over achieve. No, maybe just maybe we have some great players other idiot coaching staffs overlooked. Reesing for instance threw 40 TD's to only 5 int's his Sr year. That to me, would meet the definition of a great football player, not just an overachiever

November 16, 2007 at 9:29 a.m. ( | suggest removal )