Football Writers Association of America Sept. 2, 2014
For Immediate Release
Contact: Steve Richardson
214-870-6516
Senior linebacker contributes to two defensive scores
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UCLA'S KENDRICKS IS NAGURSKI
NATIONAL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

DALLAS (FWAA) – UCLA inside linebacker Eric Kendricks has been named the FWAA/Bronko Nagurski Defensive Player of the Week for the opening weekend games of the 2014 season.

Kendricks

Kendricks, a 6-0, 230-pound senior from Fresno, Calif., registered a game-high 16 tackles in UCLA's 28-20 victory at Virginia. In the second quarter, he intercepted a pass and returned it 37 yards for a touchdown – one of three defensive touchdowns scored by the Bruins – and also forced a fumble which led to a return for a touchdown. In the second half, two of his stops came on Virginia third-down plays.

Each Tuesday during the 2014 season the FWAA All-America Committee will select a National Defensive Player of the Week from nominations made by the 10 Football Bowl Subdivision conferences and major independents. The FWAA has sponsored a National Defensive Player of the Year award since 1993 and has named a National Defensive Player of the Week since the 2001 season.

Five finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy will be announced by the FWAA on Nov. 20. The winner of the FWAA's National Defensive Player of the Year award will be revealed on Dec. 8 during a banquet sposnored by the Charlotte Touchdown Club at the Westin Hotel in Charlotte, N.C.

The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is given in memory of the legendary All-American lineman at Minnesota (1927-29). Nagurski dominated college football at Minnesota as a bruising fullback and defensive tackle and could have been an All-America at any position. He then became a star for professional football's Chicago Bears in the 1930s.

The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). The NCFAA encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. The 21 awards boast nearly 700 years of tradition-selection excellence. Visit ncfaa.org to learn more about our story.

The Football Writers Association of America, a non-profit organization founded in 1941, consists of more than 1,400 men and women who cover college football. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include game-day operations, major awards and its annual All-America team. For more information about the FWAA and its award programs, contact Steve Richardson at tiger@fwaa.com or 214-870-6516.

The Charlotte Touchdown Club is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization founded in 1991 with the goal of promoting high school, collegiate, and professional football in the Charlotte, North Carolina region. The Club's activities and services focus community attention on the outstanding Citizenship, Scholarship, Sportsmanship, and Leadership of area athletes and coaches.

2014 Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Players of the Week
Aug. 30: Eric Kendricks, UCLA
Sept. 6: Kyshoen Jarrett, Virginia Tech
Sept. 13: Josh Keyes, Boston College
Sept. 20: Quentin Poling, Ohio
Sept. 27: Weston Steelhammer, Air Force
Oct. 4: Nate Orchard, Utah
Oct. 11: Terrance Plummer, UCF
Oct. 18: Terrell Pinson, Louisiana Tech
Oct. 25: Scooby Wright, Arizona
Nov. 1: Zach Patt, Rice
Nov. 8: Cedric Reed, Texas

2014 FWAA ALL-AMERICA COMMITTEE
Mark Anderson Las Vegas Review-Journal Mountain West
Lee Barfknecht Omaha World-Herald National
Zach Barnett Football Scoop Conference USA
Kirk Bohls Austin American-Statesman Big 12
Aaron Brenner Charleston Post & Courier ACC
Lee Feinswog Sports225.com SEC
Tommy Hicks Mobile Press Register Sun Belt
Joey Johnston Tampa Tribune American
Marc Morehouse Cedar Rapids Gazette Big Ten
Phil Steele Phil Steele Publications National
John Wagner Toledo Blade Mid-American
Jon Wilner San Jose Mercury News Pac-12