- 2023 – Xavier Watts, S, Notre Dame
- 2022 – Will Anderson Jr., OLB, Alabama
- 2021 – Will Anderson Jr., OLB, Alabama
- 2020 – Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa
- 2019 – Chase Young, DE, Ohio State
- 2018 – Josh Allen, OLB, Kentucky
- 2017 – Bradley Chubb, DE, North Carolina State
- 2016 – Jonathan Allen, DE, Alabama
- 2015 – Tyler Matakevich, LB, Temple
- 2014 – Scooby Wright III, LB, Arizona
- 2013 – Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh
- 2012 – Manti Te’o, LB, Notre Dame
- 2011 – Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College
- 2010 – Da’Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
- 2009 – Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
- 2008 – Brian Orakpo, LB, Texas
- 2007 – Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU
- 2006 – James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State
- 2005 – Elvis Dumervil, DE, Louisville
- 2004 – Derrick Johnson, LB, Texas
- 2003 – Derrick Strait, CB, Oklahoma
- 2002 – Terrell Suggs, DE, Arizona State
- 2001 – Roy Williams, S, Oklahoma
- 2000 – Dan Morgan, LB, Miami (FL)
- 1999 – Corey Moore, LB, Virginia Tech
- 1998 – Champ Bailey, CB, Georgia
- 1997 – Charles Woodson, CB, Michigan
- 1996 – Pat Fitzgerald, LB, Northwestern
- 1995 – Pat Fitzgerald, LB, Northwestern
- 1994 – Warren Sapp, DT, Miami (FL)
- 1993 – Rob Waldrop, DT, Arizona
In 2023, Notre Dame’s Xavier Watts took home the award. He became the second member of the Fighting Irish to take home the award, joining LB Manti Te’o, who won the award in 2012.
