Troy University Athletics
Reddy Steward Named to Bronko Nagurski Watch List
8/1/2023 11:00:00 AM | Football
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TROY, Ala. – One of the top cornerbacks in the country, Troy senior Reddy Steward, was named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List, the Football Writers Association of America announced Tuesday.
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The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce finalists for the 2023 trophy on Nov. 15 and the winner will be unveiled Dec. 4 at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet in Charlotte, N.C. The award is presented annually to the nation's top defensive player.
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A first team All-Sun Belt selection this preseason, Steward was the top-rated cornerback in the Sun Belt per Pro Football Focus and the second-rated corner in the Group of Five and the country with an overall 90.7 grade. The Decatur, Ala., native ranked second nationally, holding opponents to 8.7 yards after the catch and his NFL Passer Rating Against was the ninth best nationally.
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Steward returned an interception 67 yards for a touchdown at Arkansas State and added another pick late in the fourth quarter to lock in Troy's Sun Belt West title in the regular season finale.
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As a sophomore in 2021, he ranked second nationally (min. 25 targets), holding opponents to a 28.6 reception percentage (8-of-28). That season, Steward (among players with 20 or more targets) allowed the fewest receiving yards on the year with just 81 on the eight catches against him. He finished the year with an NFL Passer Rating Against of 24.7, the fifth-best in the country among cornerbacks with at least 200 coverage snaps (Steward played 223).
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As a defensive unit in 2022, Troy held all 14 of its opponents to under their season average in scoring, including three of the top 25 scoring teams in the country – UTSA, Western Kentucky and App State. The Trojans limited UTSA to just 10 offensive points in the Cure Bowl, with three of those 10 points coming on a 4-play, 7-yard drive following a turnover; the Roadrunners entered the game averaging 38.7 points per game.Â
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The Trojans held eight of its 14 opponents scoreless in the fourth quarter and allowed an average of just 3.64 points in the final 15 minutes of the game. Additionally, Troy ranked eighth nationally in turnovers gained, 14th in sacks, eighth in scoring defense, 19th in total defense and 24th in rushing defense.
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TROY, Ala. – One of the top cornerbacks in the country, Troy senior Reddy Steward, was named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List, the Football Writers Association of America announced Tuesday.
Â
The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce finalists for the 2023 trophy on Nov. 15 and the winner will be unveiled Dec. 4 at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet in Charlotte, N.C. The award is presented annually to the nation's top defensive player.
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A first team All-Sun Belt selection this preseason, Steward was the top-rated cornerback in the Sun Belt per Pro Football Focus and the second-rated corner in the Group of Five and the country with an overall 90.7 grade. The Decatur, Ala., native ranked second nationally, holding opponents to 8.7 yards after the catch and his NFL Passer Rating Against was the ninth best nationally.
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Steward returned an interception 67 yards for a touchdown at Arkansas State and added another pick late in the fourth quarter to lock in Troy's Sun Belt West title in the regular season finale.
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As a sophomore in 2021, he ranked second nationally (min. 25 targets), holding opponents to a 28.6 reception percentage (8-of-28). That season, Steward (among players with 20 or more targets) allowed the fewest receiving yards on the year with just 81 on the eight catches against him. He finished the year with an NFL Passer Rating Against of 24.7, the fifth-best in the country among cornerbacks with at least 200 coverage snaps (Steward played 223).
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As a defensive unit in 2022, Troy held all 14 of its opponents to under their season average in scoring, including three of the top 25 scoring teams in the country – UTSA, Western Kentucky and App State. The Trojans limited UTSA to just 10 offensive points in the Cure Bowl, with three of those 10 points coming on a 4-play, 7-yard drive following a turnover; the Roadrunners entered the game averaging 38.7 points per game.Â
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The Trojans held eight of its 14 opponents scoreless in the fourth quarter and allowed an average of just 3.64 points in the final 15 minutes of the game. Additionally, Troy ranked eighth nationally in turnovers gained, 14th in sacks, eighth in scoring defense, 19th in total defense and 24th in rushing defense.
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