Caleb Downs And Sonny Styles Make Nagurski Trophy Watch List, Eddrick Houston And Tegra Tshabola Make Outland Trophy Watch List

Ohio State had more players make award watch lists that were revealed on Tuesday.

Caleb Downs and Sonny Styles both are on the watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy while Eddrick Houston and Tegra Tshabola made the watch list for the Outland Trophy.

The Nagurski Trophy goes to the best defensive player in the country, which went to South Carolina defensive end Kyle Kennard. Only two Ohio State players have won the award, with current linebackers coach James Laurinaitis receiving the honor in 2006 and defensive end Chase Young getting the recognition in 2017.

Downs had 82 tackles last season and had knack for making stops in the open field while also adding eight tackles for loss, six pass breakups and two interceptions. Styles, in his first season at linebacker, had 100 tackles (11 for loss), six sacks, five pass breakups and a forced fumble.

The Outland Trophy is awarded to the best interior lineman in college football. Four Buckeyes have taken the award home, but the most recent was Orlando Pace in 1996. Jim Parker (1956), Jim Stillwagon (1970) and John Hicks (1973) are the other three former Ohio State players to win it.

Tshabola is coming off of a season in which he earned a starting job at right guard out of fall camp and started every game of the Buckeyes’ 16-game season on their way to a national championship. Houston earned more playing time on the defensive side of the ball as the 2024 season went on, and now will take over as a starter at the three-tech position.

Houston is coming off of a year in which he had seven tackles and two pass deflections as a true freshman, appearing in 12 games.