Baylor Football’s Gabe Hall Named to Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List

DALLAS – Baylor senior defensive lineman Gabe Hall has been named to the 2023 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List, as announced Tuesday by the Football Writers Association of America.

Hall is one of 96 defensive standouts selected to the watch list, which includes 11 from the Big 12. The senior out of Waller, Texas, leads a BU defensive front that held opponents under 100 yards rushing in five games last season, including in each of its first four contests.

In 2022, Hall played in all 13 games for the Bears and made 12 starts at defensive end. He totaled 36 tackles, including 5.5 for loss, with 4.5 sacks and four quarterback hurries. In the Nov. 25 game at Texas, Hall returned a fumble for a touchdown, the first recovery of his career. He was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 31 after a three-sack performance at Texas Tech, then posted a career-high seven tackles at Oklahoma a week later.

After making at least one tackle in each contest last season, Hall was named an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention by both the league’s head coaches and Pro Football Network. The 6-6, 287-pounder has already racked up a handful of preseason all-conference accolades from Phil Steele (first team), Athlon Sports (third team) and College Football Network (honorable mention) and previously warranted a mention on Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List” ahead of the 2022 campaign. Hall carries an 18-game tackle streak into 2023, with multiple stops in 12 of his last 18 outings.

The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce finalists for the 2023 trophy on Nov. 15 and the winner will be unveiled on Dec. 4 at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet in Charlotte, N.C.

To stay up to date on all things Baylor football, follow the team on its official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @BUFootball.

2023 Baylor Football Preseason Honors

Baylor

• Preseason Offensive Line of the Year (College Football Network)

Monaray Baldwin, WR

• Preseason All-Big 12 Fourth Team (Athlon Sports)
• Preseason All-Big 12 Honorable Mention (College Football Network)

Clark Barrington, OL

• Preseason All-Big 12 First Team (College Football Network)
• Preseason All-Big 12 Second Team (PFF)
• Preseason All-Big 12 Third Team (Athlon Sports, Phil Steele)

Campbell Barrington, OL

• Preseason All-Big 12 Honorable Mention (College Football Network)

Gavin Byers, OL

• Preseason All-Big 12 Honorable Mention (College Football Network)

TJ Franklin, DL

• Preseason All-Big 12 Fourth Team (Athlon Sports)

Gabe Hall, DL

• Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List
• Preseason All-Big 12 First Team (Phil Steele)
• Preseason All-Big 12 Third Team (Athlon Sports)
• Preseason All-Big 12 Honorable Mention (College Football Network)

Matt Jones, LB

• Preseason All-Big 12 Second Team (Athlon Sports)
• Preseason All-Big 12 Third Team (College Football Network)

Devin Lemear, S

• Preseason All-Big 12 Third Team (Phil Steele)
• Preseason All-Big 12 Fourth Team (Athlon Sports)
• Preseason All-Big 12 Honorable Mention (College Football Network)

Garmon Randolph, OLB

• Preseason All-Big 12 Fourth Team (Athlon Sports)
• Preseason All-Big 12 Honorable Mention (College Football Network)

Richard Reese, RB

• Maxwell Award Watch List
• Preseason All-Big 12 First Team (Athlon Sports, Big 12 Media, PFF)
• Preseason All-Big 12 Third Team (College Football Network)

Dominic Richardson, RB

• Preseason All-Big 12 Third Team (Phil Steele)

Mike Smith Jr., LB

• Preseason All-Big 12 Second Team (Phil Steele)