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UCLA Football: Eddie Vanderdoes, Fabian Moreau Named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List

By Mike Regalado

Sep 25, 2014; Tempe, AZ, USA; UCLA Bruins defensive lineman Eddie Vanderdoes (47) against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 25, 2014; Tempe, AZ, USA; UCLA Bruins defensive lineman Eddie Vanderdoes (47) against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Two UCLA Football players were listed on the Bronko Nagurski Award watch list, DT Eddie Vanderdoes and CB Fabian Moreau.

The UCLA Football team now has four players that have been named to preseason award watch lists.

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Today, both Eddie Vanderdoes and Fabian Moreau, two players that missed the majority of last season due to injuries, were named to the Bronko Nagurski Award watch lists. The Nagurski Award is given to the best defensive college football player and is decided upon by the Football Writers Association of America.

The two other Bruins that have made award watch lists are QB Josh Rosen (Maxwell) and OT Conor McDermott (Outland).

For Vanderdoes, this is his third preseason honor. He has previously been named to the Bednarik and the Outland Trophy watch lists.  On top of that, he is getting a lot of respect from several college football critics from around the country as he has also been named to a few preseason All-America teams.

Moreau’s naming to the Nagurski is a nice surprise. As one of the more versatile corners on the UCLA football roster, Moreau was sorely missed in conference play. Having only played three games, Moreau was lost for the season to a foot injury. Though the Bruins were #1 in the Pac-12 in pass defense, losing him was big.

At that point in the season, UCLA had lost Moreau, Vanderodes and Myles Jack to season-ending injuries. Can you imagine what could have been?

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Still, EV and Moreau are both looking for a little redemption and should help elevate the play of the defense next season. UCLA returns nine players on defense and with these two leading the charge, they should be vastly improved an possibly one of the best in the Pac-12. Go Bruins!