Another day, another Illini Football player on a watch list. This time, we have linebacker, Hardy Nickerson, on the watch list for College football’s best defensive player.

Nickerson transferred to Illinois after starting at Cal, and graduating (leaving him a year of immediate eligibility.) He is the son of new Defensive Coordinator, Hardy Nickerson.

Are you stoked for the season yet?

.@younghardy_ is one of 88 on the @NagurskiTrophy watch list (def. player of the year) » https://t.co/g3k3WmWbzi pic.twitter.com/yMlI6cyuEe

— Illini Football (@IlliniFootball) July 8, 2016

Some stats from his years at Cal, via FightingIllini.com:

• Three-year starter at linebacker (2013-15)
• Team captain in 2015
• Played in 35 games during his career with the Golden Bears
• 246 tackles, 9.0 TFLs, one interception, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries
• Led Cal in tackles with 112, including 54 solo, in 2015
• Third in the Pac-12 with 112 tackles in 2015
• 10+ tackles in six of the last eight games of 2015
• 16-tackle effort during a 48-46 win against Arizona State in his final game for Cal
• Two-time Pac-12 All-Academic
• Redshirted as a freshman in 2012

Other Illini on watch lists:

Watch list numbers by conference: SEC 27, Big Ten 13, Pac-12 13, ACC 11, Big 12 10, Mid-American 4, Mountain West 3, American Athletic 2, Conference USA 2, Independents 2, Sun Belt 1.

Full watch list here.

Learn more about the award here.