Pre Season Watch Lists

I've been out of town for a while and haven't been able to post any new stories for a while so I'm looking to catch up.

We are at the time of year when post-season award groups release their pre-season watch lists.

We've already gone over Kellen Moore being named to the Davey O'Brien watch list and the Manning Award watch list. Both award the best quarterback in the nation. The Davey O'Brien award has been awarded since the 1930's while the Manning Award dates back 6 years.

Ryan Winterswyk was named to the Bronco Nagurski Trophy watch list. That trophy goes to the nation's most outstanding defensive player.

Jeron Johnson's names appeared on the Jim Thorpe Award watch list that goes to the nation's best defensive back.

Nate Potter got a pre-season nod for the Outland Trophy, given to the top interior lineman in the country.

The Rimington Award, awarded to the top center in the nation, excluded the Bronco's Thomas Byrd. Byrd, who started all 14 games last year, was expected to be an easy selection to the pre-season watch list, and many who cover the Bronco were surprised he was left off the list. However, not being named to the pre-season list does not guarantee a player can't win the award, so a great season by Byrd can and should have his named mentioned with the best in the land.

Other lists due out this month include:

Chuck Bednarik Award

best defensive player

Aug. 9th

2009 winner: Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska

Walter Camp Award

player of the year

Aug. 9th

2009 winner: Colt McCoy, Texas

Maxwell Award

best all-around player

Aug. 9th

2009 winner: McCoy, Texas

Biletnikoff Award

best receiver

Aug. 10th

2009 winner: Golden Tate, Notre Dame

Ray Guy Award

best punter

Aug. 11th

2009 winner: Drew Butler, Georgia

John Mackey Award

best tight end

Aug 16th

2009 winner: Aaron Hernandez, Florida

Butkus Award

best linebacker

Aug. 16th

2009 winner: Rolando McClain, Alabama

Lou Groza Award

best kicker

Aug. 20th

2009 winner: Kai Forbath, UCLA

Rotary Lombardi Award

outstanding lineman

Aug. 20th

2009 winner: Suh, Nebraska

Doak Walker Award

best running back

Aug. 23th

2009 winner: Toby Gerhart, Stanford