Lane on Watch List for Bronko Nagurski Trophy as National Defensive Player of the Year

ATLANTA -- Georgia State's two-time All-Sun Belt Conference safety Antavious Lane added another prestigious honor as he was was named to the 2022 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is awarded annually to the nation defensive player of the year by the Football Writers' Association of America (FWAA).

This accolade comes one day after Lane was named to the 2022 Preseason Watch List for the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back, presented by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame. He was also selected to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference first team.

Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Antavious Lane

Lane, the junior from West Palm Beach, Fla., and Dwyer High School, is Georgia State's career interceptions leader after just two seasons as he enters 2022 with nine career picks; only two active FBS players have more.

Lane also owns the GSU season record of five interceptions, which he set in 2021 en route to first-team All-Sun Belt honors. Interception No. 5 was a pick six that he returned 55 yards for the score in Georgia State's bowl victory as became the first Panther with an interception in three straight games and the first with two interception returns for touchdowns. He was the team's third-leading tackler with 82 stops on the season.

Lane was named to the All-Sun Belt Conference second team as a redshirt freshman in 2020, when he had four interceptions in eight games, leading the Sun Belt and ranked No. 6 in FBS with 0.5 interceptions per game. He ranked second in the league and No. 13 in FBS with 1.2 passes defended per game.

Antavious Lane, Thorpe Award

Lane and the Panthers open preseason practice on Aug. 5.

Coming off back-to-back bowl victories, Georgia State opens the 2022 season Sept. 3 at South Carolina. The Panthers' home opener at Center Parc Stadium is Saturday, Sept. 10 at 12 noon against North Carolina, the first Power 5 program to play at Georgia State. Season tickets for GSU's six-game home slate are on sale now by visiting GeorgiaStateSports.com/Tix or calling 404-413-4020 during business hours.

2022 PRESEASON WATCH LISTS:
RB Tucker Gregg - Doak Walker Award (Running Back)
RB Jamyest Williams - Doak Walker Award (Running Back)
C Malik Sumter - Rimington Trophy (Center) & Outland Trophy (Lineman)
S Antavious Lane - Bronko Nagurski Trophy (Defensive Player of the Year) & Paycom Jim Thorpe Award (Defensive Back)

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