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Last season: Kennard was named SEC defensive player of the year and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Award winner as the nation’s most outstanding defensive player after leading the conference with 11 ½ sacks and 15 ½ tackles for loss.

Kennard won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the nation’s top defensive player at South Carolina in 2024, leading the SEC with 11½ tackles for loss and 11½ sacks.

Earlier this postseason, Notre Dame’s Xavier Watts won the Bronko Nagurski Award, a separate honor recognizing the top defensive player.

WSU edge rusher Ron Stone Jr. also added another honor to his collection from Saturday’s game, becoming the Bronko Nagurski Trophy National Player of the Week.

Linebacker Will Anderson Jr. repeated as the Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner and as a unanimous All-American.