Mike Christy / Arizona Athletics
Football
Arizona Athletics
TUCSON, Ariz. – Arizona Football Defensive Coordinator Johnny Nansen has been nominated for The Broyles Award, which honors the nation’s top assistant coach in college football.
Coach Nansen has led the Wildcats defense to unprecedented success in 2023, rising to No. 35 in total defense from No. 124 in total defense a season ago. Arizona has seen outstanding improvement in rushing defense rising to No. 13 in the nation in 2023 from No. 124 a season ago.
The Wildcats, under Coach Nansen’s leadership, have allowed under 100 yards rushing (99.4) per game for the first time in over 10 years. In 2022, Nansen’s defense forced more turnovers (16) than its 2021 counterpart (6) marking an improvement by 10 leading to a four-win improvement which marked the third-largest win improvement in program history. The 2023 Wildcats have won seven games besting its 2022 tally of five and cliched a bowl game appearance for the first time since 2017.
Arizona has seen top defensive talent like sophomore linebacker Jacob Manu rise in the individual categories within the Pac-12 and nationally. Manu is first in the conference and 28th nationally in tackles with 89. Sophomore defensive back Tacario Davis is seventh nationally and leads the Pac-12 in passes broken up with 12. Transfer defensive end Taylor Upshaw is third in the conference in sacks per game with 7.5.
The Wildcat’s defense has been fantastic in…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at University of Arizona Athletics…