TCU Places Three on Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List

From the desk of Mark Cohen:

TCU safety Sam Carter, defensive end Devonte Fields and defensive tackle Chucky Hunter appear on the watch list for the 2014 Bronko Nagurski Trophy, presented to the nation’s Defensive Player of the Year.

TCU is one of just 12 schools nationally with at least three players on the list. Two-time Horned Frogs All-American Jerry Hughes was a Nagurski Trophy finalist in both 2008 and 2009.

Carter, a preseason All-American, is a two-time All-Big 12 selection. He will take the field this fall as a graduate student after receiving his TCU degree in sociology with a minor in business.

Carter led the Horned Frogs last season with five interceptions while tying for second with four sacks. He had 7 1/2 tackles for loss among his 49 stops. The New Orleans native added two pass breakups and a forced fumble.

Fields, who has also garnered preseason All-America accolades, was the 2012 Associated Press Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year as a true freshman. He led the Big 12 in 2012 with 18.5 tackles for loss while placing third with 10 sacks. He forced two fumbles and recovered one.

Hunter is a two-time All-Big 12 selection. He led the TCU defensive line last season with 43 tackles, including six for loss with two sacks. In the weight room, he has a 750 squat (two reps), 520 bench (one rep) and 460 clean.

TCU has nine returning starters on defense this fall, not including Fields who played in only three games before a season-ending injury last year.