JONESBORO, Ark. (7/8/16) – Arkansas State junior defensive end Ja'Von Rolland-Jones was named to the Bronco Nagurski Award Watch List, presented annually to the nation's top defensive player.
Rolland-Jones is the second student-athlete in A-State history to be named to the list, joining former defensive back Tyrell Johnson who was on the watch list in 2007. The Red Wolves defensive end is also the only player from the Sun Belt to earn recognition and one of 12 players from the Group of Five on the list.
The Mesquite, Texas native had a stellar sophomore season in 2015 and led the Red Wolves with nine sacks during the year. He also added 13 tackles for loss and had 38 tackles en route to earning All-Sun Belt Conference First-Team honors.
Rolland-Jones, who has also named to the Bednarik Award Watch List, is a two-time All-SBC performer recorded a tackle for loss in 10 of A-State's 13 games in 2015 and 14 out of his last 17 contests dating back to 2014. He also tallied at least a half sack in 12 of 18 games he has played in a collegiate uniform.
The Football Writers Association of America and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce five finalists for the 2016 Bronko Nagurski Trophy on Thurs., Nov. 17. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner will be chosen from those five finalists who are part of the 2016 FWAA All-America Team. The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the association's entire membership, selects a 26-man All-America Team and eventually the Nagurski Trophy finalists. Committee members, then by individual ballot, select the winner, the best defensive player in college football.
The annual Bronko Nagurski Trophy Banquet will be held on Mon., Dec. 5 at the Westin Hotel in Charlotte. In addition to the 2016 Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner's announcement, the banquet will also celebrate the recipient of the Bronko Nagurski Legends Award, sponsored by the CTC and Florida East Coast Railway. Navy's Chet Moeller, a member of the FWAA's 1975 All-America Team and a College Football Hall of Famer, will be honored. Duke head coach David Cutcliffe will be the keynote speaker at the banquet.
Arkansas State will kick off its season with a home game against Toledo on Friday, Sept. 2. Season tickets for the Red Wolves' 2016 football campaign, which includes six home games, are available for purchase. Arkansas State has strung together 11 consecutive years with a winning home record dating back to 2005 and has won 26 of its last 30 games at Centennial Bank Stadium.
Tickets may be purchased through the A-State Ticket Office, located at the Convocation Center's lower red entrance, in person, by phone at 870-972-2781 or online by clicking the “Tickets” link located at the top of the AStateRedWolves.com home page.
