June 8, 2006
University of Notre Dame senior safety Tom Zbikowski has been named to the 2006 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List, announced by the Football Writers Association of America on Friday. The award is given to the nation’s top defensive player at the Charlotte Touchdown Club annual awards banquet.
Named a third-team All-America by the Associated Press after the 2005 season, Zbikowski led the team in interceptions with five, returned two of those picks for a touchdown and also scored two touchdowns on punt returns. He has started all 24 games in which he has played for the Irish over the last two seasons, piling up 134 tackles, one sack, three forced fumbles and six interceptions.
Zbikowski has scored via interception return, punt return and fumble return during his Notre Dame career. He will enter the ’06 season as a senior, but still has two years of eligibility remaining – as he did not see action as a reserve safety in `03.