Spotlight: ODU LB Jason Henderson on Nagurski Watch List

© Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Jason Henderson was born to play football. On the day he was born, he could have tackled the doctor in the delivery room. As a three-star prospect in high school in Pennsylvania, Henderson racked up 529 tackles, a school record. This was a clear sign of things to come.

A terror on the gridiron for the Old Dominion Monarchs, Henderson tracks ball carriers with guided missile precision. He is a man of sheer will and commitment, and the desire to stop opposing ball carriers in their tracks. Period. Henderson has been named to the 2024 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List.

Henderson Nearing Tackle Record

Henderson arrived at ODU in 2021 and stood out for the Monarchs from Day 1. As a true freshman, Henderson posted 79 tackles, including four games of double-digit stops. That season, Henderson was named a True Freshman All-American by Pro Football Focus.

In 2022 at ODU, Henderson more than doubled his number of tackles by posting a whopping 186 tackles, which led the team and the FBS and was the third most in a season in FBS history. He recorded double-digit tackles in 11 of the 12 games he played. Henderson was named first team All-Sun Belt Conference and second team All-American by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA).

Last season, Henderson earned first-team Walter Camp All-American and first team All-Sun Belt honors after leading the Monarchs with 170 tackles. Again, he posted double-digit tackles in 11 of the 13 games he played.  

If you are doing the math, that is 356 tackles over the last two seasons and 435 in his collegiate career. And double-digit tackles in 22 of 25 games.

Henderson is 111 tackles away from the NCAA record of 545 career tackles, currently held by Tim McGarigle of Northwestern (2002-2005). Based on his recent production, Henderson could easily etch his name in the record book by December, assuming he remains healthy for the entire season.

Henderson and the Monarchs open the 2024 college football season on the road at South Carolina on Aug. 31.

The Bronko Nagurski Trophy

The Nagurski Trophy is awarded to the top defensive player in college football, chosen by the FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club. Named after Bronko Nagurski, who played football for the Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Chicago Bears, the Nagurski Trophy has been awarded since 1993.

DT Rob Waldrop of Arizona won the inaugural award, and Notre Dame Safety Xavier Watts won it in 2023. Former Northwestern linebacker Pat Fitzgerald is the only two-time winner of the Nagurski Trophy, having won it in 1995 and 1996.