ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. --- Lobo safety Austin Brawley is having an All-American season, with 26 tackles (third on the team), 2.0 TFLs, three interceptions, an NCAA-leading 132 interception return yards, and a tie for the NCAA lead in interception return touchdowns with two.
Last Saturday, his pick-6 with just over 10 minutes to go thwarted a potential go-ahead drive for North Dakota State and led to the winning points. For that effort, he earned Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Today, he earned two more honors, both pretty big. He was named the Bronko Nagurski Award National Defensive Player of the Week and a semifinalist for the 2026 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award.
Brawley is the first Lobo to earn the Nagurski weekly award since its inception in 2001.
Brawley is UNM's first Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist since Brandon Payne was named a semifinalist in 2004. Brian Urlacher was also a semifinalist in 1999 and was named one of three finalists that season. Brawley was one of 15 players honored with a spot on the semifinal list, and he is one of two Group of 6 players on it, along with Brent Gordon, Jr. of Louisiana.
The Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and Jim Thorpe Association announced the list of semifinalists. ESPN will announce the Thorpe Award finalists as part of a special presentation on November 24.
Brawley has allowed no touchdowns this season, and he has six in 11 career games with UNM. He also has a blocked punt for a safety, UNM's first blocked punt in nearly 17 years.
He has been a key for UNM's defense, which leads the nation in fewest points allowed and fewest scores allowed. UNM also ranked first in fewest red-zone touchdowns allowed, interceptions, turnover margin, and takeaways; second in fewest first downs allowed; and fifth in total defense.