Georgia junior outside linebacker Justin Houston was named Wednesday as one of five finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, given annually to college football’s top defensive player.
Houston is one of three finalists from the Southeastern Conference, joining Auburn junior defensive tackle Nick Fairley and LSU junior cornerback Patrick Peterson. The other finalists are Clemson junior defensive end Da’Quan Bowers and Boston College sophomore linebacker Luke Kuechly.
The winner will be announced Dec. 6 at the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Banquet in Charlotte.
Houston, a 6-foot-3, 258-pounder from Statesboro, leads the SEC with 10 sacks and has tallied 17.5 tackles for loss, including at least one in every game this season. He was named SEC defensive player of the week for his Oct. 23 performance at Kentucky, when he amassed three tackles for loss, two sacks and a fumble recovery.
The only Georgia player to win the Nagurski honor was cornerback Champ Bailey in 1998.