Badgers land on Nagurski, Outland watch lists
July 10, 2015 | Football
July 10, 2015
MADISON, Wis. -- Preseason honors continue to roll in for Wisconsin's Vince Biegel, Michael Caputo and Dan Voltz.
Biegel, a junior outside linebacker, and Caputo, a senior safety, were named to the 2015 Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list as contenders for the award presented to the nation's best defensive player.
Voltz, a junior center, was named to the 2015 watch list for the Outland Trophy, presented annually to the nation's top interior lineman. Both lists were announced Friday by the Football Writers Association of America.
A team captain for 2015, Caputo led all Badgers with 106 total tackles last season and recorded 6.0 tackles for loss. Biegel led the Badgers with 16.5 tackles for loss in 2014, while also ranking second on the team with 7.5 sacks.
Caputo is one of five FWAA second-team All-Americans from last season that found a spot on this year's Nagurski watch list. In all, 25 linebackers and 29 defensive backs are included on the 88-man list.
Big Ten programs account for 15 names on the Nagurski list, the second-highest total for a league. Only the SEC boast more nominees, with 20.
The FWAA and Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce five finalists for the award on Nov. 19. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner will be chosen from those five finalists who are part of the 2014 FWAA All-America Team. Committee members, then by individual ballot, select the winner.
Voltz started all 14 games at center for Wisconsin last season and helped the Badgers post a school-record rushing performance that saw UW average 320.1 yards per game to rank No. 3 nationally.
Wisconsin averaged 6.91 yards per carry, the fourth-best mark in FBS history, and posted the nation's two most prolific rushing performances of the season by tallying a school-record 644 yards vs. Bowling Green on Sept. 20 and 581 yards vs. Nebraska on Nov. 15.
Voltz was part of the offensive line that led the way for Heisman Trophy runner-up Melvin Gordon to pile up 2,587 rushing yards -- second-most in FBS history -- and a total of 32 touchdowns.
Overall, Wisconsin's offense averaged 468.9 total yards per game last season, the third-highest total in program history. UW's line also allowed just 13 quarterback sacks in 14 games.
Voltz is one of 11 players from Big Ten programs to earn a spot on the watch list for the 70th Outland Trophy, which includes 82 players in total.
The FWAA will name semifinalists for the award on Nov. 19 before trimming the list to three finalists five days later.
Both the Nagurski and Outland trophies will be presented Dec. 10 at The Home Depot College Football Awards show, live on ESPN.
2015 Preseason Watch Lists
• Vince Biegel (OLB): Bednarik, Nagurski
• Michael Caputo (S): Bednarik, Nagurski
• Corey Clement (RB): Maxwell
• Rafael Gaglianone (K): Groza
• Dan Voltz (C): Outland, Rimington
