TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama football’s Tim Keenan III, Deontae Lawson and LT Overton were named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List, the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) announced Tuesday.

The Crimson Tide players are among 60 candidates named to the preseason list for the Nagurski, which recognizes the nation’s top defensive player. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy has been presented annually since 1993 by the Charlotte Touchdown Club and the FWAA and is named in honor of college and NFL Hall of Famer Bronko Nagurski. Four finalists for the 2025 Nagurski Trophy will be announced in mid-to-late November before the winner is revealed at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet on Dec. 8 in Charlotte, N.C.

Alabama has produced two recipients of the Nagurski Trophy, including the Trophy’s only two-time winner Will Anderson Jr., who received the honor in both 2021 and 2022. He joined Jonathan Allen, who was the Crimson Tide’s first recipient back in 2016.

Tim Keenan III

Defensive Line, Redshirt Senior

• A big-time presence in the middle of the Alabama defensive line
• Played in all 13 games a season ago, including 12 starts
• Recorded 40 tackles, including 7.5 for loss (-26 yards) and 2.5 sacks (-16 yards), to go with two quarterback pressures and one pass breakup
• Received a 90.1 run defense grade from Pro Football Focus in 2024, the sixth-best mark among all interior defenders, and is rated as one of the top returning defensive lineman by PFF for the 2025 season

Deontae Lawson

Linebacker, Redshirt Senior

• A permanent team captain and the leader of the Crimson Tide defense
• Made 11 starts for the Tide in 2024 prior to a season-ending injury
• Recorded 76 tackles, including 6.5 for loss (-30 yards) and two sacks (-21 yards)
• Added four pass breakups, an interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery to his stat line prior to his injury

LT Overton

Defensive Line, Senior

• Earned significant playing time in his first season at the Capstone in 2024
• Played in all 13 games a season ago, making four starts
• Totaled 42 tackles to go with three tackles for loss (-11 yards), two sacks (-9 yards), one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and a pass breakup
• Led all Tide defenders with nine quarterback hurries last season