Derrick Johnson wins Bronko Nagurski Trophy

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - University of Texas senior LB Derrick Johnson (Waco, Texas/Waco HS) was named winner of the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which is awarded annually to the best defensive player in college football, at a gala awards banquet at the Westin Hotel in Charlotte, N.C., Monday evening. The Football Writers Association of America and the Charlotte Touchdown Club present the trophy.

"This is something that I'll remember for the rest of my life," Johnson said. "Being named the defensive player of the year is a dream come true. It was one of the goals I set for myself from my first day on campus and it's taken a lot of work to get here. It feels good to know that all of the work paid off."

Johnson becomes the Longhorns' first Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner since the award began to be presented in 1993. The other finalists included Marshall DE Jonathan Goddard, Wisconsin DE Erasmus James, Georgia DE David Pollack and Auburn DB Carlos Rogers, who were all on hand for the presentation. UT Co-Defensive Coordinator Greg Robinson accompanied Johnson to the gala.

"The Nagurski Trophy is a great honor and something that every defensive player in the country dreams of," Johnson said. "I'm thrilled I had the opportunity to receive it, but I can't take all of the credit. This is an award that first and foremost honors all of my teammates and coaches back in Texas. It's definitely a team award and something we can all look at as a tribute to the great season we've had."

Johnson, a 6-4, 235-pound senior, also is a finalist for the 2004 Butkus, Bednarik and Lombardi Awards, and the Ronnie Lott Trophy, as well as the only defensive player listed among 10 "players to watch" for the Walter Camp Player of the Year honor. He leads Texas with 128 tackles this season and ranks third on the school's all-time tackle chart (456).

"He's a special guy, real special," said Robinson. "We will miss him."

Oklahoma handed UT its only loss of the 2004 regular season, 12-0 at the Cotton Bowl in early October. And Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops was the keynote speaker at this banquet. But Johnson was superb in that game, which was Oklahoma's lowest scoring output of the season.

Against the Sooners, the 6-4, 230-pound senior from Waco, Texas, collected 16 tackles (seven unassisted), made one tackle for a three-yard loss and intercepted a pass and returned it 18 yards.

"I need to thank all of my teammates for clearing the way for me to make plays," Johnson said. "A lot of times you'll see me in the highlights, but those guys are doing the dirty work to free me up to make plays. I have the greatest group of teammates in the world supporting me. They're all like brothers to me and are the main reason I've received many great honors this year."

The 2003 consensus first-team All-American and two-time first-team All-Big 12 pick has posted 19 tackles for loss, 10 QB pressures, one interception, eight pass breakups and a UT single-season record eight caused fumbles (T-No. 1 on the NCAA all-time single-season list) and earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors three times this season. With three TFLs at Kansas he increased his career total to 63 and eclipsed a UT all-time TFL record that stood for 22 years (60, Kiki DeAyala, 1979-82). He added two versus Texas A&M and now has 65. Johnson also has posted nine career interceptions, a Longhorn record for LBs. His 30 career PBUs are a UT record for LBs while his 280 solo stops (No. 3 on the UT all-time list) and 10 forced fumbles (T-No. 5 on the UT career chart) rank among UT's all-time top five. Johnson has been lauded for both his leadership and organizational development skills at Texas where he served as a student coach in Leadership in the Community classes.

Bronko Nagurski Trophy Winners
1993 Rob Waldrop, Arizona
1994 Warren Sapp, Miami
1995 Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern
1996 Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern
1997 Charles Woodson, Michigan
1998 Champ Bailey, Georgia
1999 Corey Moore, Virginia Tech
2000 Dan Morgan, Miami
2001 Roy Williams, Oklahoma
2002 Terrell Suggs, Arizona State
2003 Derrick Strait, Oklahoma
2004 Derrick Johnson, Texas