Pre-Season Awards Watch Lists

Posted on July 26, 2017 by 3psmag Leave a comment

Outland, Nagurski, Biletnikoff, Unitas and others announce candidates

It might be easier to list who ISN’T a candidate, but this is sportswriter porn, so enjoy!

2017 OUTLAND TROPHY WATCH LIST UNVEILED

DALLAS (FWAA) — The Football Writers Association of America announced its 2017 Outland Trophy Watch List on Thursday, with 81 standout interior linemen from all 10 Division I FBS conferences represented.

Two of the three 2016 Outland Trophy finalists are on the 2017 watch list – Washington State’s senior offensive guard Cody O’Connell and Texas junior offensive tackle Connor Williams. Both were first-team FWAA All-Americans in 2016 and finished behind Alabama offensive tackle Cam Robinson, who claimed the 2016 Outland Trophy and was selected in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft (No. 34 overall) by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

In addition, there are four other 2016 FWAA All-Americans on the 2017 Outland Trophy Watch List: Clemson defensive tackle Christian Wilkins (first team), and Washington offensive tackle Trey Adams, Oklahoma offensive tackle Orlando Brown and Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver from the second team.

The ACC (17) led all conferences with members on the Watch List, followed by the Big Ten and SEC (11 each), Pac-12 (10), American Athletic (9), Big 12 and Mid-American (6 each), Independents and Mountain West (4 each), Conference USA (2) and Sun Belt (1).

The list includes 24 offensive tackles, 21 defensive tackles, 20 centers and 16 offensive guards.

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.

To see the list, click here —->http://www.sportswriters.net/fwaa/news/2017/outland170713.html

2017 BRONKO NAGURSKI TROPHY WATCH LIST UNVEILED

DALLAS (FWAA) — The 2017 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List boasts 103 defensive standouts from all 10 Division I FBS conferences, including four returning players from last season’s Football Writers Association of America All-America team.Christian Wilkins, a defensive tackle for defending national champion Clemson, and Florida State defensive back Tarvarus McFadden are the only 2016 FWAA first-teamers on the list. Two other 2016 second-teamers – Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver and Virginia linebacker Micah Kiser – are included along with NIU defensive back Shawun Lurry, a 2015 First-Team FWAA All-America player.

The Atlantic Coast Conference led all conferences with 20 players on the watch list, followed by the Big Ten (16), SEC (14), Pac-12 (13), Big 12 (11), American Athletic (10), Sun Belt (6), Mountain West (5), Independents (3), Mid-American (3) and Conference USA (2). The list includes 30 defensive backs, 29 linebackers, 25 defensive ends and 19 defensive tackles, all vying for the award representing college football’s best defensive player.

Players may be added or removed from the watch list during the course of the season. As in previous seasons, the FWAA will announce a National Defensive Player of the Week each Tuesday throughout the 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 five finalists for the 2017 Bronko Nagurski Trophy on Thurs., Nov. 16.

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

The annual Bronko Nagurski Trophy Banquet, presented by ACN, will be held on Mon., Dec. 4 at the Charlotte Convention Center. In addition to the 2017 Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner’s announcement, the banquet will also celebrate the recipient of the Bronko Nagurski Legends Award, sponsored by the CTC and Florida East Coast Railway. Notre Dame’s Ross Browner, a member of the FWAA’s 1976 and 1977 All-America Teams, the 1976 Outland Trophy winner and a College Football Hall of Famer, will be honored. Georgia head coach Kirby Smart will be the keynote speaker at the banquet.

2017 BRONKO NAGURSKI TROPHY PRESEASON WATCH LIST (103)
DB Jaire Alexander, Louisville	DE Harold Landry, Boston College
DB Marcus Allen, Penn State	DE Justin Lawler, SMU
DE Dorance Armstrong Jr., Kansas	DT Dexter Lawrence, Clemson
DB Dravon Askew-Henry, West Virginia	DE Tyquan Lewis, Ohio State
LB Alex Aukerman, Army West Point	DE James Looney, California
LB Genard Avery, Memphis	DT Lowell Lotulelei, Utah
DT Drew Bailey, Louisville	DB Shawun Lurry, NIU
LB Jerome Baker, Ohio State	DB Iman Marshall, USC
DB Quin Blanding, Virginia	DE Hercules Mata’afa, Washington State
LB Eric Boggs, Appalachian State	DB Tarvarus McFadden, Florida State
DE Nick Bosa, Ohio State	DB Quenton Meeks, Stanford
DB Blace Brown, Troy	DT David Moa, Boise State
LB Jason Cabinda, Penn State	LB Skai Moore, South Carolina
LB Steve Casali, Massachusetts	LB Nyles Morgan, Notre Dame
DB Andre Chachere, San Jose State	DB Deatrick Nichols, USF
DB Sean Chandler, Temple	DT Derrick Nnadi, Florida State
DE Bradley Chubb, N.C. State	DT Kendrick Norton, Miami
LB Jack Cichy, Wisconsin	LB Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Oklahoma
DE Aikeem Coleman, Idaho	DT Ed Oliver, Houston
DB Duke Dawson, Florida	DT Da’Ron Payne, Alabama
DB D’Cota Dixon, Wisconsin	LB Shaquille Quarterman, Miami
LB Tremaine Edmunds, Virginia Tech	DB Taylor Rapp, Washington
DE Duke Ejiofor, Wake Forest	DB Jeremy Reaves, South Alabama
LB Emmanuel Ellerbee, Rice	DB D.J. Reed, Kansas State
LB Rashaan Evans, Alabama	DE Malik Reed, Nevada
DB Rashard Fant, Indiana	DT Steven Richardson, Minnesota
DT Folorunso Fatukasi, UConn	DE Malcolm Roach, Texas
DE Jaylon Ferguson, Louisiana Tech	DE Ja’Von Rolland-Jones, Arkansas State
DB Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama	LB Auggie Sanchez, USF
DE Marcell Frazier, Missouri	LB Tegray Scales, Indiana
DT Greg Gaines, Washington	DT Deadrin Senat, USF
DE Rashan Gary, Michigan	DE Conor Sheehy, Wisconsin
DT Will Geary, Kansas State	DE K.J. Smith, Baylor
LB Ulysees Gilbert III, Akron	LB Cameron Smith, USC
DT Rasheem Green, USC	DE Josh Sweat, Florida State
LB Shaquem Griffin, UCF	LB Jahlani Tavai, Hawaii
DB Chase Hansen, Utah	DE Chad Thomas, Miami
DB Heath Harding, Miami (Ohio)	LB Micah Thomas, Navy
DB Ronnie Harrison, Alabama	DB Jordan Thomas, Oklahoma
DE Marquis Haynes, Ole Miss	DT Trent Thompson, Georgia
LB James Hearns, Louisville	DB Kevin Toliver, LSU
DT B.J. Hill, N.C. State	DT Vita Vea, Washington
LB Travin Howard, TCU	LB Azeem Victor, Washington
DE Sam Hubbard, Ohio State	DE Reggie Walker, Kansas State
DT Maurice Hurst, Michigan	DB Armani Watts, Texas A&M
DB Godwin Igwebuike, Northwestern	DB Jordan Whitehead, Pitt
DB Derwin James, Florida State	DE JoJo Wicker, Arizona State
LB Malik Jefferson, Texas	DT Christian Wilkins, Clemson
LB Josey Jewell, Iowa	DB Andrew Wingard, Wyoming
LB Jordan Jones, Kentucky	DB Jaden Wright, New Mexico State
LB Arden Key, LSU	DE Jabari Zuniga, Florida
LB Micah Kiser, Virginia
By conference: ACC 20, Big Ten 16, SEC 14, Pac-12 13, Big 12 11, American Athletic 10, Sun Belt 6, Mountain West 5, Independents 3, Mid-American 3, Conference USA 2.
By position: Backs 30, Linebackers 29, Ends 25, Tackles 19.
Players may be added or removed from the list before or during the season

The Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation Announces the 2017 Biletnikoff Award Pre-Season Watch List

For Immediate Release: July 18, 2017

Tallahassee, FL – The Tallahassee Quarterback Club (TQC) Foundation, Inc., the Florida-based creator and sponsor of the Biletnikoff Award, has released the 2017 Biletnikoff Award Pre-Season Watch List. The Biletnikoff Award annually recognizes the outstanding receiver in college football. Any player, regardless of position (wide receiver, tight end, slot back, and running back) who catches a pass is eligible for the award. As such, the Biletnikoff Award recognizes the outstanding receiver, not merely the outstanding wide receiver. The award recipient is selected by the highly distinguished Biletnikoff Award National Selection Committee, a group of prominent college football journalists, commentators, and former receivers. Foundation trustees do not vote and have never voted. BiletnikoffAward.com/voters

Receivers are periodically added to the watch list as their season performances dictate. Actual, not potential, performance is the basis for inclusion on the Biletnikoff Award Watch List.

The transparently detailed and explicit criteria for candidate eligibility, watch list inclusion, and voting appear at: BiletnikoffAward.com/criteria

The 2017 Biletnikoff Award winner will be presented live on December 7, 2017, on The Home Depot College Football Awards Show to be broadcast 7:00 – 9:00pm (EST) on ESPN. College Football Hall of Famer, Heisman Trophy winner, and Biletnikoff Award voter Desmond Howard will present the 2017 Biletnikoff Award winner on the show. Howard is one of only 5 ends or receivers who has won the Heisman Trophy, joining Larry Kelley, Leon Hart, Johnny Rodgers, and Biletnikoff Award voter Tim Brown.

The correlation between Biletnikoff Award winners and stardom in the National Football League is uncannily predictable. Past Biletnikoff Award winners include Calvin Johnson, Randy Moss, Michael Crabtree, Amari Cooper, and Larry Fitzgerald.

The 2017 Biletnikoff Award winner will be presented the Biletnikoff Award trophy by college and pro football hall of famers Fred Biletnikoff and keynoter Floyd Little before 550 patrons at the Biletnikoff Award Banquet at the University Center Club at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee on Saturday, February 10, 2018. The banquet was hailed by 2014 keynote speaker Dick Vermeil, as well as by 2013 keynoter Larry Csonka, as “the best banquet in college sports.”

The banquet has featured distinguished keynoters of profound character and accomplishments including Bart Starr, Dick Vermeil, Larry Csonka, Steve Largent, Mike Ditka, Don Shula, Dan Reeves, Archie Manning, Ron Jaworski, Gene Stallings, Bob Griese, Bill Curry, Bobby Bowden, Jim Kelly, Jerry Kramer, Joe Theismann, and Dan Fouts.

The banquet also recognizes the Foundation’s scholarship recipients who will be offered by the Foundation over $800,000 in college and vocational scholarships and related benefits in 2018 alone, as in 2016 and 2017. The Foundation’s charitable mission is the provision of college and vocational scholarships to North Florida high school seniors who have overcome significant barriers to achieve at the highest academic and extra-curricular levels.

The Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, Inc., will announce the ten Biletnikoff Award semifinalists on November 13, 2017, following the vote by the members of the Biletnikoff Award National Selection Committee. Likewise, the three finalists will be declared, following another vote, on November 21, 2017. For complete details and updates of interest, together with weekly statistics and timely, important news of the Biletnikoff Award candidates, as well as a fan vote and discussion board, please consult the Foundation’s highly informative website at BiletnikoffAward.com.

The name Biletnikoff is synonymous with the term receiver. Fred Biletnikoff, a member of the pro and college football halls of fame, was an All-America receiver at Florida State University, and an All-Pro receiver for the Oakland Raiders. He caught 589 passes for 8,974 yards and 76 touchdowns in his 14-year Raiders career from 1965 through 1978. Fred was the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XI. The Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation (TQC), Inc., created the Biletnikoff Award in 1994.

The 2017 Biletnikoff Award Pre-Season Watch List
(Other receivers will be added as their season performances dictate)

NAME	SCHOOL
Sergio Bailey II	Eastern Michigan
Linell Bonner	Houston
Adam Breneman	Massachusetts
Ventell Bryant	Temple
Deon Cain	Clemson
Keke Coutee	Texas Tech
Deondre Douglas	Troy
Jonathan Duhart	Old Dominion
Shay Fields	Colorado
Michael Gallup	Colorado State
James Gardner	Miami (Ohio)
Devin Gray	Cincinnati
Andy Isabella	Massachusetts
Richie James	Middle Tennessee
Jon’Vea Johnson	Toledo
KeeSean Johnson	Fresno State
Christian Kirk	Texas A&M
Allen Lazard	Iowa State
Tavares Martin Jr.	Washington State
Jalen McCleskey	Oklahoma State
Anthony Miller	Memphis
Scott Miller	Bowling Green
J’Mon Moore	Missouri
Dante Pettis	Washington
Ervin Philips	Syracuse
Cam Phillips	Virginia Tech
T.J. Rahming	Duke
Ahmmon Richards	Miami
Calvin Ridley	Alabama
Demetris Robertson	California
Devin Ross	Colorado
Deebo Samuel	South Carolina
Steven Sims Jr.	Kansas
Tre’Quan Smith	UCF
Equanimeous St. Brown	Notre Dame
Allenzae Staggers	Southern Miss
Courtland Sutton	SMU
Cody Thompson	Toledo
Emanuel Thompson	Troy
James Washington	Oklahoma State
Jester Weah	Pitt
Nick Westbrook	Indiana
Jimmy Williams	East Carolina
Corey Willis	Central Michigan
Cedrick Wilson	Boise State

Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award

The 2017 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award boasts 47 standout quarterbacks from different divisions and conferences across the nation. The Golden Arm Award is presented at the end of each football season and the winner is selected based on his accomplishments both on and off the field. Candidates must be a college senior or fourth-year junior on schedule to graduate with their class.

This year marks the 30th Anniversary of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, and we are proud to honor this new class of candidates. After three decades of honoring these quarterbacks’ achievements, the Golden Arm Award is the only college football award that has 10 previous recipients still competing in the NFL.

2017 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List:

• Austin Allen, Arkansas
• Kyle Allen, Houston
• J. T. Barrett, Ohio State
• Kurt Benkert, Virginia
• David Blough, Purdue
• Ahmad Bradshaw, Army
• Max Browne, Pittsburgh
• Christian Chapman, San Diego State
• Keller Chryst, Stanford
• Brandon Dawkins, Arizona
• Jason Driskel, Florida Atlantic
• Jesse Ertz, Kansas State
• Danny Etling, LSU
• Luke Falk, Washington State
• Riley Ferguson, Memphis
• Ryan Finley, NC State
• Nick Fitzgerald, Mississippi State
• Quinton Flowers, South Florida
• Andrew Ford, UMass
• Justice Hansen, Arkansas State
• Brandon Harris, North Carolina
• Kenny Hill, TCU
• Stephen Johnson, Kentucky
• Taylor Lamb, Appalachian State
• Richard Lagow, Indiana
• Tanner Lee, Nebraska
• Matt Linehan, Idaho
• Connor Manning, Georgia State
• Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
• Trace McSorley, Penn State
• Ryan Metz, Univ. of Texas El Paso
• Hayden Moore, Cincinnati
• Kent Myers, Utah State
• Josh Rosen, UCLA
• Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State
• Nic Shimonek, Texas Tech
• Bryant Shirreffs, UConn
• Brandon Silvers, Troy
• Wilton Speight, Michigan
• Nick Stevens, Colorado State
• Brent Stockstill, Middle Tennessee
• Dalton Sturm, Univ. of Texas San Antonio
• Clayton Thorson, Northwestern
• Mike White, Western Kentucky
• Troy Williams, Utah
• Logan Woodside, Toledo
• Darius Wade, Boston College

2017 JOHN MACKEY AWARD PRESEASON WATCH LIST
New York, N.Y. (July 11, 2017) – The Friends of John Mackey have released the 2017 John
Mackey Award Preseason Watch List. Given annually to the most outstanding collegiate tight
end, the award recipient is selected by vote of the John Mackey Award Selection Committee and
the 2017 Mackey Award recipient will be announced on December 6, 2017 and then presented
live on December 7, 2017 at The Home Depot College Football Awards Red Carpet Show on
ESPNU. All future announcements can be found at http://www.johnmackeyaward.com.
NFL Hall of Fame member John Mackey is considered to be the best to have played the tight end
position. A tight end by whom all others are measured, Mackey was a role model on and off the
field as demonstrated by his Super Bowl Championship, his commitment to community and his
place in history as the first President of the NFLPA.

The John Mackey Award presented since 2000, recognizes fourteen alumni that have played in
the NFL: two-time Super Bowl Champion Daniel Graham (‘01), 2006 Super Bowl Champion
Dallas Clark (‘02), Kellen Winslow II (‘03), two-time Super Bowl Champion Heath Miller (‘04),
Marcedes Lewis (‘05) of the Jacksonville Jaguars, 2008 Super Bowl Champion Matt Spaeth (‘06),
Fred Davis (‘07), Chase Coffman (‘08), D.J. Williams (‘10), Dwayne Allen (’11) of the New
England Patriots, Tyler Eifert (’12) of the Cincinnati Bengals, Austin Seferian-Jenkins (’13) of the
New York Jets, Nick O’Leary (’14) of the Buffalo Bills, Hunter Henry of the Los Angeles Chargers
and 2016 John Mackey Award recipient Jake Butt of the Denver Broncos.
2017 John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List
(in alphabetical order)

PAYCOM JIM THORPE AWARD NAMES 2017 PRESEASON WATCH LIST
Oklahoma City—The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award 2017 watch list was announced today and includes 45 of the nation’s
best defensive backs, representing ten conferences.
The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is one of the most coveted awards in college football. It is awarded to the best
defensive back in college football based on performance on the field, athletic ability and character. The award was
established in 1986 and is named after history’s greatest all-around athlete, Jim Thorpe. Thorpe excelled not only as a running back, passer, and kicker on the offensive side of the ball; but also stood out as a defensive back. In addition to his legendary performance on the football field, Thorpe played professional baseball and won Olympic gold medals in the decathlon and pentathlon.

Paycom Software, Inc. (“Paycom”) (NYSE:PAYC), a leading provider of comprehensive, cloud-based human capital
management software, and the Jim Thorpe Museum and Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame (OSHOF) jointly announced in May of 2017 an exclusive sponsorship of the Jim Thorpe Award. As a result, the accolade will be named the “Paycom Jim Thorpe Award.”

The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award watch list is chosen by a screening committee who compiles a list of 30-50 players.
The list is not final, and players who have outstanding seasons are added as the season progresses. The Thorpe Award Winner is selected from three finalists and will be announced at The Home Depot College Football Awards on Thursday, December 7, 2017, on ESPN.

The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Banquet will be held on Tuesday, February 6, 2018, in Oklahoma.

2017 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List
Brandon Addison
Old Dominion- Sr.
Jaire Alexander
Louisville – Jr.
Marcus Allen
Penn State – Sr.
Dravon Askew-Henry
West Virginia – Jr.
Quin Blanding
Virginia – Sr.
Joe Brown
WKU – Sr.
Andre Chachere
San Jose State – Sr.
Sean Chandler
Temple – Sr.
Justin Clifton
Arkansas State – Jr.
Amari Coleman
Central Michigan – Sr.
Kamari Cotton-Moya
Iowa State – Sr.
Duke Dawson
Florida – Sr.
Clifton Duck
Appalachian State – So.
Mike Edwards
Kentucky – Jr.
Rashard Fant
Indiana – Sr.
Minkah Fitzpatrick
Alabama – Jr.
Tre Flowers
Oklahoma State – Sr.
Chase Hansen
Utah – Jr.
Heath Harding
Miami – Sr.
Ronnie Harrison
Alabama – Jr.
Godwin Igwebuike
Northwestern – Sr.
Donte Jackson
LSU – Jr.
Derwin James
Florida State – So.
Chris Jones
Nebraska – Sr.
Shawun Lurry
NIU – Sr.
Iman Marshall
USC – Jr.
Kishawn McClain
North Texas – Sr.
Tarvarus McFadden
Florida State – Jr.
Quenton Meeks
Stanford – Jr.
Deatrick Nichols
USF – Sr.
Parry Nickerson
Tulane – Sr.
Nick Orr
TCU – Sr.
Taylor Rapp
Washington – So.
Jeremy Reaves
South Alabama – Sr.
D.J. Reed
Kansas State – Jr.
Justin Reid
Stanford – Jr.
Dominick Sanders
Georgia – Sr.
M.J. Stewart
North Carolina – Sr.
Greg Stroman
Virginia Tech – Sr.
Jaleel Wadood
UCLA – Sr.
Denzel Ward
Ohio State – Jr.
Armani Watts
Texas A&M – Sr.
Jordan Whitehead
Pitt – Jr.
Andrew Wingard
Wyoming – Jr.
Jalen Young
FAU – Jr.
By Conference: AAC (3), ACC (7), Big Ten (5), Big 12 (5), C-USA (4), MAC (3), MW (2), Pac-12 (6),
SEC (7), Sun Belt (3)

tagged with awards, College football