College Football
NEW YORK — Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson is a Heisman Trophy finalist for the second consecutive season, joining Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson, Michigan linebacker Jabrill Peppers and Oklahoma teammates Baker Mayfield and Dede Westbrook.
Watson finished third in last year’s voting, won by Alabama running back Derrick Henry. Just like last year, he heads to New York not as the favorite but as the contender coming on strong at the end.
Peppers is the first defensive player to be a Heisman finalists since Notre Dame linebacker Manti Teo was a distant runner-up to Johnny Manziel in 2012.
Westbrook and Mayfield are the first teammates to be finalists since Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart from Southern California in 2005.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Alabama senior defensive lineman Jonathan Allen has won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy given annually to the nation’s best college defensive player.
Allen was selected Monday night over four other finalists, including Crimson Tide teammate Reuben Foster. Florida State cornerback Tarvarus McFadden, Michigan linebacker Jabrill Peppers and Clemson defensive end Christian Wilkins were also among the finalists who attended the awards ceremony hosted by the Charlotte Touchdown Club.
The 6-foot-3, 291-pound Allen has 56 tackles and nine sacks this season for the Crimson Tide, tied for third-most in the Southeastern Conference.
Golf
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Teenager Nasa Hataoka figures her struggles in the final round of the qualifying tournament for the U.S. LPGA tour probably took about 10 years off her life.
Hataoka shot a 6-over 78 in the fifth and final round of the LPGA Q-school tournament on Sunday, but it was still good enough to leave her within the top 20 who earned full tour status for next season.
At 17, the third-year student at Renaissance High School in Ibaraki Prefecture becomes the youngest Japanese player to earn an LPGA tour card. (Washington Post)
NBA
PHILADELPHIA — Danilo Gallinari scored 24 points and Will Barton had 22, including a big 3-pointer late, to lead the Denver Nuggets to a 106-98 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night.
Jamal Murray added 22 points for the Nuggets, who won for just the second time in the last seven games. It was their second contest of a six-game road trip.
Ersan Ilyasova, Sergio Rodriguez and Dario Saric all had 17 points for Philadelphia, which culminated a four-game homestand with its seventh straight defeat.
NFL
LAKE FOREST, Ill. — The Chicago Bears have placed quarterback Jay Cutler on injured reserve because of a season-ending right shoulder injury.
The Bears announced the move Monday. Coach John Fox said last week that Cutler would not play again this season.
Cutler injured his shoulder during a loss to the New York Giants on Nov. 20, but finished the game. He made five starts this season and completed 81 of 137 passes for 1,059 yards with four touchdowns and five interceptions.
Because he doesn’t have a high salary-cap figure for 2017, Cutler could be traded or cut in the offseason.
Associated Press
