C.J. Fite lands on Nagurski and Outland Trophy Preseason Watch Lists

Outland Trophy
The Outland Trophy is the third-oldest major college football award. Created in 1946 when Dr. John Outland presented the FWAA with a financial contribution to initiate the award, the Outland Trophy has been given to the best interior lineman in college football ever since.

Dr. Outland, an All-American at the University of Pennsylvania in the late 1890s, eventually took up practice in Kansas City, Mo. An avid outdoorsman, Dr. Outland believed linemen did not get the credit they deserved and wanted an award to recognize them.

Entering 2026

• Has played in 38 games in his Sun Devil career and has racked up 76 tackles (40 solo).
• Posted career-best eight tackles in the Sept. 21, 2024 game at Texas Tech and had two of his 12 tackles-for-loss (37 yards) at Baylor on Sept. 20, 2025.

2025 Junior

• Member of the Pat Tillman Leadership Council
• Played and started all 13 games at defensive tackle
• Provided a stabilizing presence and consistent force in the trenches, allowing the Sun Devil run defense to thrive
• Managed to collect 29 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss despite seeing double teams a majority of the season
• Added a sack, forced fumble, and two pass breakups while consistently causing disruption in opposing backfields
• Recorded two tackles for loss and a sack in the 27-24 road win at Baylor (9/20/25)
• Matched a season-high with four tackles while also forcing a fumble in the win over Texas State (9/13/25)
• Credited with at least one tackle in all 13 games

2024 Sophomore

• Recorded 30 tackles on the year with 4.0 coming for loss and two sacks with a fumble recovery
• His eight tackles for loss or no gain with tied for the fifth-most among Big 12 interior linemen
• His 16 defensive "stops" on run defense were ninth among Big 12 interior players
• One of the true building blocks for the 2024 Big 12 title as he joined the program in 2023 and earned Big 12 honors last year
• Played and started in all 14 games for the Big 12 Champions

2023 Freshman

• Played the fourth-most snaps of any true freshman defender in the Pac-12 and tops among all defensive linemen ... He was Top-50 among all true freshmen defenders in the FBS in snaps played and his 350 snaps were third among all true freshmen interior defensive lineman in the FBS for the season
• Among FBS true and redshirt freshmen, his 71.3 grade from PFF on run defense was fifth in the country
• That mark was good for 13th among all Pac-12 interior defenders, regardless of year 
• FInished with 15 tackles, 1.5 for loss with one pass breakup and a fumble recovery

Award process
The Outland Trophy winner is chosen from three finalists who are a part of the annual FWAA All-America Team. The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the entire membership, selects a 26-man first team and eventually the three Outland finalists. Committee members, then by individual ballot, select the winner. Only interior linemen on offense or defense are eligible for the award; ends are not eligible. 

The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the association’s full membership, selects a 26-man All-America Team and eventually the Bronko Nagurski Trophy finalists. Committee members, by individual ballot, select the winner they regard as the best defensive player in college football.

Selection timeline
The FWAA will announce the Outland Trophy semifinalists on Nov. 18, and those players will then be pared down to three finalists announced on Nov. 24. The Outland Trophy winner is chosen from those finalists who will be part of the annual FWAA All-America Team. Players may be added or removed from the watch list during the course of the season.

For a third year now, the FWAA will announce an Outland Trophy National Player of the Week each Tuesday this season. If not already on the watch list, each week’s honored player will be added at that time.

The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce finalists for the 2026 Bronko Nagurski Trophy on Nov. 19. The official presentation to the recipient of the 2026 Nagurski Trophy will be at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet in Charlotte, N.C., on Dec. 7. Players may be added or removed from the watch list during the course of the season.

As in previous years, the FWAA will announce a Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week each Tuesday this season. If not already on the watch list, each week’s honored player will be added at that time.