CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Playing four seasons at North Carolina State has paid off for Bradley Chubb.
The Wolfpack’s senior defensive end won the Bronko Nagurski Award on Monday night given to the nation’s top defensive player. The award was presented at the Charlotte Convention Center.
The 6-foot-4, 275-pound Chubb leads the FBS in tackles for loss with 23 1/2 this season. He has 25 sacks during his career, including 10 in 2017. He has 72 total tackles in all along with nine quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles, two passes broken up and a blocked kick.
Chubb becomes the first North Carolina State to win the award. Wolfpack linebacker Levar Fisher was a finalist in 2000.
“It’s a little surreal moment just knowing the people who won this award in the past, but it’s definitely an honor,” Chubb said.
Some of the previous Nagurski Award recipients are defensive linemen Aaron Donald, Warren Sapp and Ndamukong Suh, linebackers Luke Kuechly, Derrick Johnson and Terrell Suggs, and defensive backs Champ Bailey, Charles Woodson and Roy Williams.
Chubb beat out four other finalists: Alabama safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, Iowa middle linebacker Josey Jewell, Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver and Georgia outside linebacker Roquan Smith.
When asked if there was trash talking between the five finalists beforehand, Chubb joked “It’s all goodwill. It’s a little size-up stuff with a lot of guys asking, ‘What were your stats like this year?’ Just to feel each other out, but it’s all in good fun.”
Notre Dame’s Ross Browner, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, was this year’s Legends Award recipient.
Georgia’s Kirby Smart was the keynote address at the banquet.

Nagurski award
Bronko Nagurski Award Winners
Nation’s Top Defensive Player
2017—Bradley Chubb, North Carolina State
2016—Jonathan Allen, Alabama
2015—Tyler Matakevich, Temple
2014—Scooby Wright III, Arizona
2013—Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh
2012—Manti Te’o, Notre Dame
2011—Luke Kuechly, Boston College
2010—Da’Quan Bowers, Clemson
2009—Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska
2008—Brian Orakpo, Texas
2007—Glenn Dorsey, LSU
2006—James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
2005—Elvis Dumervil, Louisville
2004—Derrick Johnson, Texas
2003—Derrick Strait, Oklahoma
2002—Terrell Suggs, Arizona State
2001—Roy Williams, Oklahoma
2000—Dan Morgan, Miami
1999—Corey Moore, Virginia Tech
1998—Champ Bailey, Georgia
1997—Charles Woodson, Michigan
1996—Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern
1995—Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern
1994—Warren Sapp, Miami
1993—Rob Waldorf, Arizona