May 12, 2008

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Senior defensive tackle John Gill (Los Altos Hills, Calif./Bellarmine Prep) is one of 88 players from across the country on the 2008 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is awarded to the best defensive player in college football and sponsored by the Charlotte Touchdown Club.

Last month, Gill was named to the 2008 Outland Trophy Watch List, which is awarded to the nation's top interior lineman.

Gill, a senior this fall, led all NU defensive linemen in 2007 with 50 tackles, which included a career-high 10 stops against Michigan. He notched four pass sacks, which ranked second among all Wildcats. Gill also added three pass deflections and a fumble recovery.

He received honorable mention All-Big Ten honors from both the league's coaches and media in 2007. Gill is one of four returning starters on NU's defensive line.

Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald was the 1995 and 1996 recipient of the Bronko Nagurski Trophy. The award has been presented since 1993 and is awarded in memory of the legendary Nagurski, a former All-America lineman at Minnesota in 1927-29 and a star for professional football's Chicago Bears in the 1930s.

The Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) selects the Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner from the association's 11-man All-America defensive team in November.