Two LSU football defenders make major preseason watchlist

· Yahoo Sports

LSU football linebackers Princewill Unanmielen and Whit Weeks were named to the preseason watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy. The annual award is presented to the best defensive player in the NCAA. Glenn Dorsey won the award in 2007 and he is the only LSU player to do so.

Umanmielen and Weeks are two of the most explosive and experienced defenders in the country. Both could've made the jump to the NFL after last season but decided to play for Lane Kiffin in his first season leading the Tigers.

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Weeks broke his ankle during the Week 5 game against Ole Miss last year. The linebacker was in and out of the lineup for the rest of the season but largely shut things down in Week 8, a disappointing second act after breaking out as a sophomore in 2024. He totaled 125 tackles, including 10 for loss, and 3.5 sacks that year.

Umanmielen transferred to Ole Miss ahead of 2025 after two seasons at Nebraska. The defensive end posted 44 tackles, including 13 for loss, and nine sacks in his lone season with the Rebels. He's a shoo-in for a starting role with the Tigers in his second season under Kiffin.

This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Two LSU football defenders make major preseason watchlist

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