AMES, Iowa – A trio of Cyclones – Mike Rose (LB), Will McDonald IV (DE) and Greg Eisworth II (S) – were named to the 2021 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List, announced today and given annually to the nation’s best defensive player.
Iowa State is one of five teams nationally to have three or more players represented.
A senior from Brecksville, Ohio, Rose was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and an All-Big 12 First Team recipient in 2020 while leading the Cyclones to a win over Oregon in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl.
Rose, who has started all 38 games in his outstanding career, was named to multiple All-America teams in 2020 and has earned All-Big 12 recognition in each of his three seasons in Ames.
Rose had the most tackles in the Big 12 (96) and was credited with 10.5 TFL, ranking third on the team. The Cyclone star also led all NCAA linebackers nationally with five interceptions, the most by a Cyclone linebacker in school history.
A senior from Pewaukee, Wis., McDonald IV has developed into one of the most dominant pass-rushers in college football despite never starting a game in his career.
McDonald IV was a First Team All-Big 12 selection in 2020 after leading the Big 12 and tying for first nationally in overall sacks at 10.5, setting a new ISU single-season record. He also recorded 33 tackles and ranked fourth in the league in TFL (13.5).
McDonald IV tallied at least 0.5 sack in nine of 12 games played last year and his 17.5 career sacks ranks third in school history.
A native of Grand Prairie, Texas, Eisworth II is the only Cyclone in school history to be named First Team All-Big 12 three times (2018-20). The heart and soul of the Cyclone secondary will enter his super senior season (sixth year) with 33 starts, 199 tackles, 9.0 TFL, 19 pass breakups and three interceptions in his career.
Eisworth II, who was the 2018 Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, was outstanding in 2020, registering 47 tackles, 1.5 TFL, four pass breakups and a fumble recovery.
