Seventy-five players from 56 different schools were named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List on Tuesday ahead of the start of the 2024 college football season.

Here is a rundown of some of the biggest names on the list, headlined by Colorado cornerback Travis Hunter and Michigan cornerback Will Johnson:

• Travis Hunter, CB, Colorado
• Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
• Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio State
• Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
• Malachi Moore, S, Alabama
• Harold Perkins, LB, LSU
• JT Tuimoloau, DE, Ohio State
  
• James Pearce, DE, Tennessee
• Mykel Williams, DE, Georgia
• Xavier Watts, S, Notre Dame

The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is awarded annually to the best defensive player in college football, as decided by the Football Writers Association of America.

Since it was first awarded in 1993, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy has been given to some of the biggest stars in college football, many of whom went on to make a sizable impact in the NFL.

That includes Warren Sapp, Charles Woodson, Champ Bailey, Terrell Suggs, Ndamukong Suh, Luke Kuechly, Aaron Donald, Chase Young and Will Anderson Jr., among many others.

Before last season, when Notre Dame safety and 2024 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List member Xavier Watts won the award, a defensive back had not won it since 2003.

However, some of the biggest names on this year's watch list are DBs, including Hunter, Johnson, Watts and Ohio State defensive backs Denzel Burke and Caleb Downs.

Hunter is perhaps the most intriguing name on the list since he stars on both sides of the ball for head coach Deion Sanders at Colorado.

Last season, Hunter, showed off his explosive ability at wideout with 57 receptions for 721 yards and five touchdowns, but he was arguably even better at corner, recording 22 tackles, three interceptions and five passes defended.

It is unclear what the future holds for Hunter in the NFL, but if he is good enough to challenge for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy in 2024, then cornerback may be his calling at the next level.

As for Johnson, who registered 27 tackles, four picks and four passes defended for undefeated Michigan en route to a national championship last season, he has a chance to establish himself as the top corner in the 2025 NFL draft with another strong campaign.

Watts will have a chance to enter elite company if he can repeat as the Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner after bringing in seven interceptions last season.

Northwestern linebacker Pat Fitzgerald and Anderson, during his time as a pass-rusher at Alabama, are the only players to ever win the Bronko Nagurski Trophy twice.