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Photo – OT Anthony Davis – Rutgers

Lombardi Award Announces Watch List

HOUSTON – The Watch List for the 40th annual Rotary Lombardi Award has been announced and it includes 153 players from 79 teams and 11 conferences. The Rotary Lombardi Award is presented annually by Houston's Rotary Club to the nation's top college football lineman -- offense or defense -- who, in addition to outstanding performance and ability, best exemplifies the discipline of Vince Lombardi.
The Watch List was formed by using 2008 postseason and 2009 preseason all-conference and All-America teams. Additional nominations were accepted from Rotary Lombardi Award voters and college sports information directors.
On Oct. 14, the 12 semifinalists for the Rotary Lombardi Award will be announced. On Nov. 11, the four finalists will be named. All of the finalists will travel to Houston for the ceremony to announce the winner on Dec. 9 at the Hilton Americas. The 2008 Rotary Lombardi Award winner was Brian Orakpo, a defensive end from the University of Texas. He was the first round draft selection of the Washington Redskins.
The Rotary Club of Houston founded the Rotary Lombardi Award in 1970, in the weeks following the death of legendary coach Vince Lombardi from cancer. The 40th Rotary Lombardi Award dinner will be held on Dec. 9, 2009, at the Hilton Hotel. Net proceeds from the event benefit the American Cancer Society. For more information call the Rotary Club of Houston at 713-973-9936 or visit the website at www.rotarylombardiaward.org.
Rutgers junior offensive tackle Anthony Davis (Piscataway, N.J.) is one of the premier players for this award. He was also named to the 40-man Outland Trophy Watch List. He is a Preseason All-American and has been the anchor of a Scarlet Knight offensive line in recent seasons that returns all five starters for the 2009 season.

2009 Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List

Name / School / Pos / Yr / Hgt / Wgt
Rahim Alem - LSU - DE - Sr - 6-3, 254
Sean Allen - East Carolina - OL - Sr - 6-3, 310
Tyson Alualu - California - DL - Sr - 6-3, 295
Geno Atkins - Georgia - DT - Sr - 6-1, 287
Marvin Austin - North Carolina - DT - So - 6-3, 305
Carl Barnett - Houston - OL - Sr - 6-2, 285
Kevin Basped - Nevada - DL - Jr - 6-6, 240
Zane Beadles - Utah - OL Sr - 6-4, 305
Jeremy Beal - Oklahoma - DL - Jr - 6-3, 261
Jason Beauchamp - UNLV - LB - Sr - 6-3, 235
Nick Bellore - Central Michigan - LB - Jr - 6-1, 241
Patrick Benoist - Vanderbilt - LB - Sr - 6-1, 224
Scooter Berry - West Virginia - DL - Jr - 6-1, 294
Ciron Black - LSU - OL - Sr - 6-5, 325
Clint Boling - Georgia - LT - Jr - 6-5, 297
Greg Boone - Virginia Tech - TE - Sr - 6-3, 283
Korey Bosworth - UCLA - DE - Sr - 6-1, 242
Kyle Bosworth - UCLA - LB - Sr - 6-1, 234
Navorro Bowman - Penn St. - LB - Jr - 6-1 230
Mike Brewster - Ohio St - C - So - 6-5, 296
Mike Bryan - Tulsa - LB - Sr - 6-3, 226
Bryan Bulaga - Iowa - OT - Jr - 6-6, 315
Ben Burkett - Northwestern - C - So - 6-4. 285
Brad Bustle - Louisiana - G - Sr - 6-3, 302
Jeff Byers - Southern California - OG - Sr - 6-3, 290
Nate Byham - Pittsburgh - TE - Jr - 6-4, 265
Gabe Carimi - Wisconsin - OL - Jr - 6-7, 325
Alex Carrington - Arkansas St - DE - Sr - 6-5, 275
Brandon Carter - Texas Tech - OL - Sr 6-7, 354
Reggie Carter - UCLA - LB - Sr - 6-1, 240
Anthony Castonzo - Boston College - OT - Jr - 6-7, 287
Nick Charles - Air Force - OL - Sr - 6-4, 285
Keenan Clayton - Oklahoma - LB - Sr - 6-1, 221
Terrence Cody - Alabama - DL - Sr - 6-5, 354
Justin Cole - San Jose St. - LB - Sr - 6-3, 240
Antonio Coleman - Auburn - DE - Sr - 6-3, 257
Erik Cook - New Mexico - OL - Sr. - 6-6, 318
Jermaine Cunningham - Florida - DE - Sr - 6-3, 252
Rennie Curran - Georgia - LB - So - 5-11, 228
Anthony Davis - Rutgers - OL - Jr - 6-6, 325

2009 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List

Photo - DE Eric Norwood - South Carolina

Six Football Writers Association of America All-Americans are among 62 players selected to the 2009 Bronko Nagurski Watch List, announced by the FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club. Included on the list are two past finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Texas Christian end Jerry Hughes and South Florida end George Selvie.

The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is awarded annually to the nation's best defensive player by the FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club. The trophy has been presented since 1993 and is awarded in memory of the legendary Nagurski, an All-America lineman at Minnesota in 1927-29 and a star for professional football's Chicago Bears in the 1930s.

Besides Hughes, a 2008 All-American, and Selvie, a 2007 All-American, other FWAA All-Americans from last season on the 2009 Watch List are Tennessee defensive back Eric Berry Alabama tackle Terrence Cody, USC defensive back Taylor Mays and Florida linebacker Brandon Spikes.

The Bronko Nagurski Watch List is fluid. Players may be added or removed during the season. After the first four games of the season, the FWAA will revise the list and at that time school sports information directors may submit names for players not on the list to the FWAA and their conference's FWAA All-America Committee representative.

2009 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List

Javier Arenas, DB, Alabama
Geno Atkins, DT, Georgia
Kevin Basped, DE, Nevada
Jeremy Beal, DE, Oklahoma
Eric Berry, DB, Tennessee
Navorro Bowman, LB, Penn St
Morgan Burnett, DB, Georgia Tech
Kam Chancellor, DB, Virginia Tech
Barry Church, DB, Toledo
Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama
Kurt Coleman, DB, Ohio St
Antonio Coleman, DE, Auburn
Rennie Curran, LB, Georgia
Ras-I Dowling, CB, Virginia
Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida
Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan
Joe Haden, DB, Florida
Greg Hardy, DE, Ole Miss
Jerry Hughes, DE, TCU
Micah Johnson, LB, Kentucky
Greg Jones, LB, Michigan St
Arthur Jones, DT, Syracuse
Sergio Kindle, LB, Texas
Brandon Lang, DE, Troy
Sean Lee, LB, Penn State
Mark LeGree, DB, Appalachian St
Myron Lewis, CB, Vanderbilt
Trevard Lindley, DB, Kentucky
Taylor Mays, DB, USC
Rolondo McClain, LB, Alabama
Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma
Koa Misi, DE, Utah
Jerome Murphy, CB, USF
Andre Neblett, NT, Temple
Eric Norwood, LB, South Carolina
Jared Odrick, DT, Penn St
Vince Oghobaase, DT, Duke

Florida Pick to Repeat by Draft Insiders Poll
USA Poll also Picks Florida as No.1 Team

Photo – QB Sam Bradford – Oklahoma

Florida, Texas & Oklahoma Top Draft Insiders Preseason College Poll

1. Florida – With Tebow, they are capable of repeating as champs.
2. Texas – Colt McCoy gives them a chance for the national title.
3. Oklahoma – The Sooners are loaded again and legitimate national contenders.
4. USC – Trojans reload with first year starting QB.
5. Ohio St – QB Terrelle Pryor is capable to taking the Buckeyes to the Big Show.
6. Virginia Tech – Hokies always a tough gang that comes to play.
7. Mississippi - Ole Miss is primed for a monster 2009 season.
8. Oklahoma St – Cowboys have an impressive and explosive offense
9. Penn St – Nittany Lions play sound football consistently.
10. LSU – QB play may decide if they stay in the top ten rankings
11. Oregon – Ducks will push the Trojans for the Pac 10 title.
12. North Carolina - Butch Davis’ s club should be a major surprise.
13. Alabama – Tide will rely on defense to push the top ten.
14. California – Bears need a special season from Best to win Pac 10 title.
15. Georgia Tech - Runner Dwyer hopes to carry Jackets to ACC title.
16. Boise St - Broncos best in this conference.
17. Georgia – Bulldogs have to reload especially on offense.
18. Utah – Utes won’t sneak up on anyone now.
10. Notre Dame – Irish primed for big performance after mediocrity recently.
20. Pittsburgh – Panthers are capable of ranking this high.
21. Florida St – Seminoles must show more offensively to move up rankings.
22. Oregon St – Tough schedule will make or break them.
23. Iowa – Scrappy club always play sound football.
24. Nebraska – Huskers still a formidable force in the Big 12.
25. BYU – Tough opener with Sooners could delay their run at the Utes for MWC title.

Frank Coyle is a longtime Member of the FWAA and voter in College team and player awards - Heisman, Outland, Nagurski, Thorpe, etc. He is a voter for the Super 16 College Team Polls throughout the season that will present Grantland Rice award to the national champion in January 2010. He is also a voter for Players of the Week and for the FWAA All-American teams at the conclusion of each season.

Maxwell 2009 Award Watch List

WR Dezmon Briscoe - Kansas

Wideout Dezmon Briscoe of Kansas heads a strong list of preseason candidates for the prestigious Maxwell Award Watch list. The Jayhawks’ star receiver hopes the problems that kept him out of spring workouts are behind him with the regular season only weeks away. He hopes to have another season like last year's 92-catch, 1,407-yard and 15 TDs performance. After a record-smashing first two seasons at Kansas, Briscoe is already playing with an eye toward the NFL Draft 2010. With another season like last year's strong performance, he would in just three seasons have over 200 catches for 3000 yards and 30+ TD receptions.

2009 Maxwell Award Preseason Watch List

Benn, Arrelious - Illinois WR
Best, Jahvid - Cal RB
Blount, LeGarrette - Oregon RB
Bradford, Sam - Oklahoma QB
Briscoe, Dezmon - Kansas WR
Brown, Chris - Oklahoma RB
Bryant, Dez - Oklahoma St WR
Clark, Daryll - Penn St QB
Clausen, Jimmy - Notre Dame QB
Clay, John - Wisconsin RB
Decker, Eric - Minnesota WR
Devine, Noel - West Virginia RB
Dwyer, Jonathan - Georgia Tech RB
Evans, Darren - Virginia Tech RB
Fletcher, Damion - Southern Miss RB
Gerhart, Toby - Stanford RB
Gilyard, Mardy - Cincinnati WR
Green, A.J. - Georgia WR
Gresham, Jermaine - Oklahoma TE
Griffin, Robert - Baylor QB
Gronkowski, Rob - Arizona TE
Grothe, Matt - South Florida QB
Hall, Max - BYU QB
Hunter, Kendall - Oklahoma St RB
Jones, Julio - Alabama WR
Kaepernick, Colin - Nevada QB
Keenum, Case - Houston QB
LaFell, Brandon - LSU WR
LeFevour, Dan - Central Michigan QB
Locker, Jake - Washington QB
Mallett, Ryan - Arkansas QB
Masoli, Jeremiah - Oregon QB
McCoy, Colt - Texas QB

Biletnikoff '09 Award Watch List

WR Arrelious Benn - Illinois

Illinois receiver Arrelious Benn and Oklahoma St wideout Dez Bryant head a list 37 players nationally for the preseason watch list for the 2009 Biletnikoff Award, the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation announced this week. Both Benn and Bryant are talented underclassmen who have the big play ability to be difference makers this season. Bryant is coming off impressive ’08 performances and was the runner-up for the award last year when he was consensus 1st-team All-America honoree as a sophomore. He is coming off a sensational ‘08 campaign in which he made 87 catches for 1,480 yards. He ranked 2nd nationally with 19 touchdown receptions and was third nationally with 113.9 receiving yards per game. His 9.69 points per game ranked second in the country and his 17.94 yards per punt return placed him third in the nation.
The Biletnikoff Selection Committee will send out electronic ballots to voters. The first vote will determine the 10 semifinalists and will be announced on October 22. The 2nd vote will determine the top 3 finalists and will be announced on November 19th and the last vote to determine the recipient will take place on November 30th. All Voters for the Biletnikoff Award consist of Sports Writers who cover College Football on a National, Regional, or Conference Level, Past Award Winners of the Biletnikoff Award, and distinguished receivers of the past. The recipient of the 2009 Biletnikoff Award will be announced live on ESPN on The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards on Thursday, December 10th. The Biletnikoff Award Presentation Banquet will be held at the University Center Club at Florida St University in Tallahassee, Florida, on Saturday, February 13, 2010. The award is named for Fred Biletnikoff, the Florida St University All-America receiver and a Pro-Football Hall of Famer. The Biletnikoff Award has been given out for the past 15 years.

2009 Biletnikoff Award Preseason Watch List

Kris Adams, UTEP
Seyi Ajirotutu, Fresno St
Brandon Banks, Kansas St
Doug Beaumont, Louisville
Arrelious Benn, Illinois
Dezmon Briscoe, Kansas
Antonio Brown, Central Michigan
DeAndre Brown, Southern Miss
Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma
Dez Bryant, Oklahoma St

40 Players - Early consideration for Nation's Top interior lineman

2009 Outland Trophy Watch List

DT Ndamukong Suh - Nebraska

The Southeastern and Big 12 conferences dominated the 40-man 2009 Outland Trophy Watch List that was released this week. The SEC placed 10 players on the list and the Big 12 had nine, with no other conference having more than four players on the prestigious list. Every Division I Bowl subdivision conference, along with Notre Dame, had at least one player on the annual list, which includes only interior linemen – tackles, guards and centers on both sides of the ball. Alabama defensive tackle Terrence Cody is the only player on the list who was on the FWAA's 2008 All-America Team.
Oklahoma and Texas from the Big 12; Florida, Georgia and Alabama from the SEC; USC from the Pac-10; and Penn State from the Big Ten each had two players on the list.
In early October, the FWAA will consider other players for the 2009 Outland Trophy Watch List when most teams have completed four games of play. Sports Information Directors will be asked to contact their conference's representative on the 2009 All-America Committee and copy the FWAA office with the nominated player.
The Outland Trophy, presented annually since 1946, is the third oldest award in major college football. The winner of the Outland Trophy, named after the late John Outland, an All-America lineman at Penn and Kansas at the turn of the century, will be announced on the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show on Dec. 10 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The Outland Trophy presentation banquet, sponsored by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee, will be held on Jan. 14 in Omaha, Neb.

2009 OUTLAND TROPHY PRESEASON WATCH LIST
Jon Asamoah, Illinois, G
Geno Atkins, Georgia, DT
Zane Beadles, Utah, OL
Ciron Black, LSU , OT
Bryan Bulaga, Iowa, OT
Jeff Byers, USC, G
Brandon Carter, Texas Tech, G
Nick Charles, Air Force, G
Terrence Cody, Alabama, DT
Anthony Davis, Rutgers, OT
Chris Fisher, Louisiana-Lafayette, C
Kurtis Gregory, Missouri, G
Chris Hall, Texas, C
Mike Iupati, Idaho, OL
John Jerry, Ole Miss, OT
Mike Johnson, Alabama, OL
Arthur Jones, Syracuse, DT
Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma, DT

2009 Walter Camp Player of the Year “Watch List”

DE George Selvie – South Florida

The Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced the names of thirty “players to watch” for its prestigious Player of the Year award, the nation’s fourth-oldest individual college football accolade.
“We are proud to continue the great work of Walter Camp and recognize the best college football players in the nation,” Foundation president Alphonse Paolillo, Jr. said. “This watch list is a great start to what is shaping up to be another exciting year of college football.”
Six players on the 2009 watch list, including the 2008 Walter Camp Player of the Year Colt McCoy (QB, Texas), were named to last year’s Walter Camp All-America First Team. The watch list will be narrowed to 10 semi-finalists in early November. The 2009 Walter Camp Player of the Year recipient, which is voted on by the 119 NCAA Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors, will be announced live on the ESPN SportsCenter on December 10. The winner will then receive his trophy at the annual national awards banquet on January 18, 2010 at Yale University in New Haven. Walter Camp, “The Father of American football,” first selected an All-America team in 1889. Camp – a former Yale University athlete and football coach – is also credited with developing play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side. The Walter Camp Football Foundation (www.waltercamp.org) – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team.

2009 Walter Camp Player of the Year “Watch List”
Jahvid Best, RB, Junior, California
Arrelious Benn, WR, Junior, Illinois
Eric Berry, DB, Junior, Tennessee - 2008 Camp 1st Team All-American
Sam Bradford, QB, Junior, Oklahoma - 2008 Camp 2nd Team All-American