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Gators' Mike Pouncey Named to Rimington Trophy Watch List

Photo – Mike Pouncey - Florida

Florida senior center Mike Pouncey was named to the 2010 Rimington Trophy Watch List. The Rimington Trophy is presented annually to the Most Outstanding Center in NCAA Division I-A College Football.

Pouncey has appeared in 39 games with 32 starts and started all 14 games during the 2008 and 2009 seasons, including the Gators’ 2010 Sugar Bowl victory, the 2008 SEC Championship Game victory and the 2008 FedEx BCS National Championship Game victory. Last season, Pouncey was named a 2009 AP Second-Team All-American, as well as an AP First-Team All-SEC selection.

In 2009, Mike’s brother, Maurkice, became the first Gator to win the award after tallying 40 career starts over his three seasons, while also garnering recognition as a first-team All-American by Walter Camp, the FWAA, Sporting News and CBSSports.com. Maurkice was the 18th overall pick of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. If Mike wins the award, it would be the first time two brothers won the same award.

The award is named in honor of Dave Rimington, a consensus first-team All-America center at the University of Nebraska in 1981 and 1982, during which time he became the John Outland Trophy's only double winner as the nation's finest college interior lineman.

In all, there are 37 players on the Watch List. The ACC checks in with the most candidates, with six players being named. The SEC, Big-12 and PAC-10 are represented by five players each on the Watch List. While more than a dozen All-America football teams are selected annually, the Rimington Trophy committee uses these four prestigious teams to determine a winner:

* American Football Coaches Association
* Walter Camp Foundation
* Sporting News
* Football Writers Association of America

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 weekly Team and Player Awards.The center with the most first-team votes will be determined the winner. If there is a tie with first-team votes, then the center with most second-team votes will win. If there is still a tie, the winner will be determined by the Rimington Trophy committee. The winner will be honored at the Rimington Trophy Presentation banquet at the Rococo Theater in Lincoln, Nebraska on January 15, 2011.

2010 Rimington Trophy Watch List
Chris Anzevino - Kent State - 6'2" 305 - Junior
Tim Barnes - Missouri - 6'4" 310 - Senior
Ryan Bartholemew - Syracuse - 6'2" 310 - RS Senior
Colin Baxter - Arizona - 6'4" 295 - Senior
Sean Bedford - Georgia Tech - 6'1" 274 - Senior
Chase Beeler - Stanford - 6'3" 276 - Senior
Mario Benavides - Louisville - 6'4" 312 - Sophomore
Joe Bernardi - Fresno State - 6'2" 285 - Senior
Ben Bojicic - Bowling Green - 6'4" 294 - Sophomore
Mike Brewster - Ohio State - 6'5" 293 - Junior
J.C. Brignone - Mississippi State - 6'1" 300 - Senior
Ben Burkett - Northwestern - 6'4" 285 - Junior
Mike Caputo - Nebraska - 6'1" 275 - Junior
Dalton Freeman - Clemson - 6'5" 280 - Sophomore
Jordan Holmes - Oregon - 6'5" 294 - Senior
Trask Iosefa - San Diego State - 6'0" 300 - Senior
Ben Jones - Georgia - 6'3" 300 - Junior
Jake Kirkpatrick - Texas Christian - 6'3" 305 - Senior
Peter Konz - Wisconsin - 6'5" 313 - Sophomore
Alex Linnenkoh - Oregon State - 6'2" 297 - Senior
Kai Maiava - UCLA - 6'1" 300 - Junior
Ryan McMahon - Florida State - 6'3" 282 - Junior
Colin Miller - Central Michigan - 6'3" 292 - Senior
David Molk - Michigan - 6'2" 270 - Senior
Bryan Morgan - Duke - 6'3" 255 - Senior
Russell Nenon - Wake Forest - 6'4" 295 - RS Junior
Kristofer O'Dowd - USC - 6'5" 300 - Senior
Brad Paul - Memphis - 6'5" 290 - Senior
Moe Petrus - Connecticut - 6'2" 292 - RS Junior
Mike Pouncey - Florida - 6'5" 312 - Senior
Ryan Pugh - Auburn - 6'4" 297 - Senior
Lon Roberts - Louisiana Tech - 6'3" 285 - RS Junior
Brad Serini - Florida International - 6'3" 300 - Senior
Keenan Stevens - Colorado - 6'2" 290 - Senior
William Vlachos - Alabama - 6'1" 296 - Junior
Beau Warren - Virginia Tech - 6'3" 292 - RS Senior
Wade Weibert - Kansas State - 6'4" 303 - Senior

Clay Named Doak Walker Award Candidate

Photo – RB John Clay - Wisconsin

Wisconsin junior running back John Clay has been named one of 49 candidates for the Doak Walker Award, presented annually to the nation’s top college running back, the SMU Athletic Forum announced Wednesday.

Clay is the reigning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and led the Big Ten and ranked eighth in the country with 1,517 rushing yards in 2009. His 18 rushing TDs also led the Big Ten and tied for seventh in the nation. It has been a busy offseason for Clay who has also been named to the preseason Watch Lists for the Walter Camp Award and Maxwell Awards. He was also selected as a Playboy All-American.

This is the second straight season Clay has been named to the Doak Walker Award Watch List. Ron Dayne is the only Wisconsin player to win the Doak Walker Award, bringing home the trophy in 1999. Dayne was also a finalist for the award in 1998 while Anthony Davis (2001), Brian Calhoun (2005) and P.J. Hill (2006) have all been semifinalists.

In addition to Clay, the field of candidates is highlighted by the nation’s leading returning rusher, Dion Lewis from Pittsburgh; 2009 Doak Walker Award finalist and Heisman Trophy recipient, Mark Ingram from Alabama; and Ryan Williams from Virginia Tech, who ranked third nationally and led the ACC in rushing last season.

The recipient of the 2010 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on ESPN on The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards on Thursday, Dec.9. The Doak Walker Award Presentation Banquet will be held at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas, Texas, in Feb. 2011.

Complete List of Doak Walker Candidates

Anthony Allen (Sr.), Georgia Tech
Armando Allen (Sr.), Notre Dame
Victor Anderson (Jr.), Louisville
Jeremy Avery (Sr.), Boise State
Baron Batch (Sr.), Texas Tech
Donald Buckram (Sr.), UTEP
John Clay (Jr.), Wisconsin
Lennon Creer (Jr.), Louisiana Tech
Jeff Demps (Jr.), Florida
Noel Devine (Sr.), West Virginia
Lance Dunbar (Jr.), North Texas
Darren Evans (Jr.), Virginia Tech
Mario Fannin (Sr.), Auburn
Jay Finley (Sr.), Baylor
Frank Goodin (Sr.), Louisiana Monroe
Cyrus Gray (Jr.), Texas A&M
Montel Harris (Jr.), Boston College
Dan Herron (Jr.), Ohio State
Kendall Hunter (Sr.), Oklahoma State
Mark Ingram (Jr.), Alabama
Eugene Jarvis (Sr.), Kent State
Dennis Johnson (Jr.), Arkansas
Mikel Leshoure (Jr.), Illinois
Dion Lewis (So.), Pittsburgh
MiQuale Lewis (Sr.), Ball State
Derrick Locke (Sr.), Kentucky
Christine Michael (So.), Texas A&M
Alfred Morris (Jr.), Florida Atlantic
Richard Murphy (Sr.), LSU
Vince Murray (Sr.), Navy
DeMarco Murray (Sr.), Oklahoma
Bernard Pierce (So.), Temple
Bilal Powell (Sr.), Louisville
Alexander Robinson (Sr.), Iowa State
Jacquizz Rodgers (Jr.), Oregon State
Evan Royster (Sr.), Penn State
Brandon Saine (Sr.), Ohio State
Da’Rel Scott (Sr.), Maryland
Chad Spann (Sr.), Northern Illinois
Rodney Stewart (Jr.), Colorado
Phillip Tanner (Sr.), Middle Tennessee
Vai Taua (Sr.), Nevada
Daniel Thomas (Sr.), Kansas State
Jordan Todman (Jr.), Connecticut
Matthew Tucker (So.), TCU
Derrick Washington (Sr.), Missouri
Ed Wesley (So.), TCU
Eddie Wide (Sr.), Utah
Ryan Williams (So.), Virginia Tech

Paul Hornung Award List Announced

Photo – Paul Hornung – Notre Dame

Louisville Sports Commission Announces Hornung Award Watch List
The Louisville Sports Commission in conjunction with football legend Paul Hornung, announced the Watch List for the inaugural Hornung Award that will be given annually to the most versatile player in major college football.

The Watch List is comprised of 48 players and was compiled by a panel of college football experts based on 2009 statistics and expectations heading into the 2010 season. The list will be updated during the course of the season based on players' performances.

"Paul Hornung was a playmaker and the spirit of the Paul Hornung Award is to recognize versatile, high-level performers who make an impact on the game," said Karl Schmitt, executive director of the Louisville Sports Commission.

Paul Hornung Award
Created by the Louisville Sports Commission, the Paul Hornung Award is designed to recognize versatile, high-level performers in major college football and help preserve the legacy of one of Kentucky's best known athletes. A panel of experts will select the inaugural winner in early January 2011. The votes will be tabulated by a full service accounting firm. Hornung is considered by many the best all-around player in the history of college and pro football. He won the 1956 Heisman Trophy at quarterback for Notre Dame and was the No. 1 pick in the 1957 NFL draft. He played every position in the backfield during his career with the Irish, where he also punted, kicked, returned kicks and played defensive back and was a multi-threat offensive back and prolific kicker in the pros. He was a member of four NFL championship teams as an all-pro halfback for the Green Bay Packers and led the NFL in scoring 1959-60-61, set the single season scoring record in 1960 with 176 points and was named League MVP following the 1961 season. Legendary Packers Coach Vince Lombardi called Hornung, "The most versatile man ever to play the game." Paul is a member of the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame and the Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame and resides in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky.

Nearly half of the players - a total of 23 - do not appear on any major college football award watch list published to date. Most candidates had a minimum of three different "touches" in 2009 - catching, running, passing, returning kicks, returning punts, holding for placements, tackling, deflecting / intercepting a pass or recovering a fumble. In 2009, the 48 players on the list amassed a combined:
15,581 rushing yards and 186 TDs
19,808 receiving yards and 128 TDs
10,187 passing yards and 83 TDs
438 punt returns, 4,960 yards, 15 TDs; 822 KOs 21,175 yards and 28 TDs
360 total touchdowns and 2,174points
374 tackles; eight forced fumbles; 35 passes broken up
12 interceptions, two returned for TDs; two fumbles returned for TDs
Three blocked kicks

There are 25 seniors, 18 juniors and five sophomores on the list, representing all 11 conferences that are part of the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). Go to www.paulhornungaward.com/candidates for more information on the players. Players from all FBS teams are eligible. Appearing on the Watch List is not a prerequisite for winning the Award. The Selection Committee will narrow the field to approximately 10-15 Finalists at the end of the regular season in early December then will select the winner at or near the end of the bowl season in early January.

2010 Paul Hornung Award Watch List
Douglas Beaumont, Louisville
Leon Berry, Mississippi State
Brandon Boykin, Georgia
LaVon Brazill, Ohio
Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma
Tyron Carrier, Houston
Randall Cobb, Kentucky
Graig Cooper, Miami
Dwight Dasher, Middle Tennessee
Ricky Dobbs, Navy
Tandon Doss, Indiana
Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina
David Gilreath, Wisconsin
Dwayne Harris, East Carolina
T.Y. Hilton, Florida International
Jerrel Jernigan, Troy
Damaris Johnson, Tulsa
Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, Iowa
Colin Kaepernick, Nevada
Jeremy Kerley, TCU
Derrick Locke, Kentucky
Owen Marecic, Stanford
Doug Martin, Boise State
Keshawn Martin, Michigan State
Josh Nesbitt, Georgia Tech
James Nixon, Temple
Warren Norman, Vanderbilt
Chris Owusu, Stanford
Eric Page, Toledo
Niles Paul, Nebraska
DeVier Posey, Ohio State
Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State
Bobby Rainey, Western Kentucky
Chris Rainey, Florida
Greg Reid, Florida State
Reggie Rembert, Air Force
Dyrell Roberts, Virginia Tech
James Rodgers, Oregon St.
Jock Sanders, West Virginia
Mohamed Sanu, Rutgers
Da'Norris Searcy, North Carolina
Torrey Smith, Maryland
Shaky Smithson, Utah
Jerrard Tarrant, Georgia Tech
Daniel Thomas, Kansas State
Shane Vereen, California
Demond Washington, Auburn
Devon Wylie, Fresno State

For additional information on the individuals selected to the 2010 watch list,
visit http://www.paulhornungaward.com/candidates

Greg Romeus, Adrian Clayborn and Von Miller Head Strong Ted Hendricks Award Watch List

Photo - Greg Romeus - Pittsburgh

The Ted Hendricks Award is now in its ninth season. The award is named in honor of former University of Miami defensive lineman Ted Hendricks, college football’s first three-time first-team All-American.

On-field performance, exceptional winning attitude, leadership abilities, contributions to school and community and academic preparedness are some of the criteria used to determine the award’s winner. Members of the national media, head coaches, professional scouts and former winners are included in the award’s voting committee. Candidates may represent any class (freshman through senior) as well as any four-year NCAA-accredited school. The candidate’s primary position must be defensive end.

The watch list is subject to change until the final mid-season watch list is issued in November. Players may be added or deleted, depending on performance, injury, etc. The 2010 winner will be announced on December 8.

2010 Ted Hendricks Watch List
Johnathan Rainey, New Mexico
Sam Acho, Texas
Pierre Allen, Nebraska
Christian Anthony, Grambling
Allen Bailey, Miami
Jeremy Beal, Oklahoma
Broderick Binns, Iowa
Da’Quan Bowers, Clemson
Adrian Clayborn, Iowa
Jack Crawford, Penn State
Marcell Dareus, Alabama
Ricky Elmore, Arizona
Jonathan Freeny, Rutgers
Cameron Heyward, Ohio State
Datone Jones, UCLA
Cameron Jordan, California
Thomas Keiser, Stanford
Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue
Jake Laptad, Kansas
Kapron Lewis-Moore, Notre Dame
Greg Lloyd, Connecticut
Kentrell Lockett, Mississippi
Cliff Matthews, South Carolina
Josh McNary, Army
Pernell McPhee, Mississippi State
Bruce Miller, Central Florida
Von Miller, Texas A&M
Dontay Moch, Nevada
Nick Perry, USC
Robert Quinn, North Carolina
Adrian Robinson, Temple
Greg Romeus, Pittsburgh
Kenny Rowe, Oregon
Aldon Smith, Missouri
Chris Walker, Tennessee
Ryan Winterswyk, Boise State

Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List
Photo – DE Adrian Clayborn - Iowa

The Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced the names of thirty "players to watch" for its 2010 Player of the Year award, the nation's fourth-oldest individual college football accolade on the prestigious list.

The watch list will be narrowed to 10 semi-finalists in early November.

The 2010 Walter Camp Player of the Year recipient, which is voted on by the 120 NCAA Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors, will be announced live on the 6 p.m. ESPN SportsCenter on Thursday, December 9. The winner will then receive his trophy at the Foundation's annual national awards banquet on January 15, 2011 at the Yale University Commons in New Haven.

2010 Walter Camp Player of the Year "Watch List"
Donald Buckram, RB, Senior, UTEP
John Clay, RB, Junior, Wisconsin
Adrian Clayborn, DE, Senior, Iowa
Jared Crick, DL, Senior, Nebraska
Andy Dalton, QB, Senior, TCU
Dwight Dasher, QB, Senior, Middle Tennessee
Noel Devine, RB, Senior, West Virginia
Ricky Dobbs, QB, Senior, Navy
Michael Floyd, WR, Junior, Notre Dame
A.J. Green, WR, Junior, Georgia
Mark Ingram, RB, Junior, Alabama #
LaMichael James, RB, Sophomore, Oregon
Greg Jones, LB, Senior, Michigan State $
Colin Kaepernick, QB, Senior, Nevada
Case Keenum, QB, Senior, Houston $
Dion Lewis, RB, Sophomore, Pittsburgh
Jake Locker, QB, Senior, Washington
Andrew Luck, QB, Sophomore, Stanford
Ryan Mallett, QB, Junior, Arkansas
Kellen Moore, QB, Junior, Boise State
Rahim Moore, DB, Junior, UCLA $
Chris Owusu, WR/KR, Junior, Stanford $
Patrick Peterson, DB, Junior, LSU
Bernard Pierce, RB, Sophomore, Temple
Terrelle Pryor, QB, Junior, Ohio State
Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, Junior, Oregon State $
James Rodgers, WR/KR, Senior, Oregon State
Evan Royster, RB, Senior, Penn State
Quad Sturdivant, LB, Senior, North Carolina
Ryan Williams, RB, Sophomore, Virginia Tech

# - 2009 Walter Camp First Team All-America selection
$ - 2009 Walter Camp Second Team All-America selection

Ponder Selected To Maxwell Award Watch List. Senior QB was a semifinalist in 2009

Photo - QB Christian Ponder - Florida St

Florida State senior QB Christian Ponder’s name is back in the spotlight as the Maxwell Football Club announced Monday that he is one of seven 2009 semifinalists making a return appearance on the Maxwell Award 2010 Watch List. Ponder is the highest ranked senior QB prospect entering the 2010 season and NFL Draft 2011 by Frank Coyle of Draft Insiders.com.

The Maxwell Award has been presented annually to the outstanding collegiate football player in America since 1937 and is named in honor of sportswriter Robert W. “Tiny” Maxwell.

Ponder is joined by returning semifinalists Noel Devine (West Virginia), Mark Ingram (Alabama), Case Keenum (Houston), Dion Lewis (Pittsburgh), Kellen Moore (Boise State and Jacquizz Rodgers (Oregon State) on a list of top contenders for the 74th annual award.

Semifinalists for the 2010 Maxwell Award will be announced Nov. 8 and three finalists will be named on Nov. 22. The winner will crowed as aprt of the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show, which will be held on Dec. 9 in Orlando. The formal presentation will be made the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala in Atlantic City, N.J. on March 4, 2011.

Ponder was chosen as a watch list candidate by the Maxwell Football Club’s Selection Committee, which reserves the right to make additions and subtractions to the list as the 2010 season unfolds. He was a late addition to the 2009 watch list after a blazing start which placed him among the national statistical leaders among quarterbacks. Members of the Maxwell Football Club, NCAA Sports Information Directors, head coaches and selected national media comprise the voting panel for the award.

Florida State quarterback Charlie Ward captured the 1993 Maxwell Award.

Jim Thorpe Award Preseason "Watch List"

Photo - CB Ras-I Dowling - Virginia

Virginia senior cornerback Ras-I Dowling was named to the Thorpe Award Watch List as announced Monday by the Jim Thorpe Association. The Chesapeake, Va., native is one of six ACC players on the preseason watch list, joining Kendric Burney (North Carolina), Rashad Carmichael (Virginia Tech), Brandon Harris (Miami), DeAndre McDaniel (Clemson) and Deunta Williams (North Carolina).

The 2010 Jim Thorpe Award preseason "watch list" announced today includes 35 of the nation's best defensive backs as the leading candidates for the trophy. Frank Coyle of Draft Insiders has been a voter in the Jim Thorpe award for the past 15 years.

Dowling is mentioned on the Nagurski Trophy watch list for the second-straight season after earning his second-straight 2nd team All-ACC nod, anchoring the ACC's No. 4 and the nation's No. 21 pass defense in 2009. Dowling finished the season ranked No. 6 in the ACC in passes defended (11) and No. 11 in interceptions (three). After recording a career-high nine tackles, including his first career sack, against Indiana, Dowling earned the ACC Defensive Back of the Week nod by the league. He also averaged 3.4 tackles per game and had two tackles for loss. He is also a College Football Insider preseason All-American (second team). He enters his final season at UVa with eight career interceptions and 145 total tackles. He has 36 career pass defenses.

The Thorpe Award is one of college football's most sought after and prestigious awards. It is named after history's greatest all-around athlete, a man who excelled as a running back, passer and kicker on offense, but also was an awesome defensive back. Recognized in the Pro Football Hall of Fame simply as "The Legend," Thorpe also played professional baseball and won Olympic gold medals in the decathlon and pentathlon.

The Jim Thorpe Award "watch list" is determined by analysis of the pre-season All-American teams listed in at least six pre-season college football annual magazines. Four points are awarded for first team, three points for second team, two points for third and one point for honorable mentions. This procedure determines approximately 30-40 players on the pre-season watch list. This list is not final and players who have outstanding seasons are added as the season progresses.

A screening committee of Jim Thorpe Association members follows these players throughout the season, watching games and researching information sources to grade Thorpe Award candidates on the basis of performance on the field, athletic ability and character. The committee meets on the first Monday in November to narrow the field to 10 or 12 semi-finalists.

The committee meets again on the Monday before Thanksgiving to select the three finalists. The names of these finalists are submitted to a national panel of about 50 sports writers, sportscasters, coaches and former players who vote to determine the winner. The three finalists are invited to the ESPN College Football Awards Show, and the winner is announced during the show. Formal presentation of the Jim Thorpe Award takes place at ceremonies in Oklahoma City on the first Tuesday in February following the national signing date for college football recruits.

2010 Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List (35)

Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
Mark Barron, S, Alabama
Brandon Boykin, CB, Georgia
Curtis Brown, CB, Texas
Kendric Burney, CB, North Carolina
Brandon Burton, CB, Utah
Rashad Carmichael, CB, Virginia Tech
Quinton Carter, S, Oklahoma
Chimdi Chekwa, CB, Ohio State
Don Decicco, S, Pittsburgh
Ras-I Dowling, CB, Virginia
Blake Gideon, S, Texas
Stephen Gilmore, CB, South Carolina
Brandon Harris, CB, Miami
Will Hill, S, Florida
Jermale Hines, S, Ohio State
Brandon Hogan, CB, West Virginia
Davon House, CB, New Mexico State
Duke Ihenacho, S, San Jose State
Jaiquwn Jarrett, S, Temple
Janoris Jenkins, CB, Florida
Jeron Johnson, S, Boise State
Tejay Johnson, S, TCU
Shiloh Keo, S, Idaho
Brian Lainhart, S, Kent State
DeAndre McDaniel, S, Clemson
Rahim Moore, S, UCLA
Johnny Patrick, CB, Louisville
Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
Tyler Sash, S, Iowa
Robert Sands, S, West Virginia
Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado
Trevin Wade, CB, Arizona
Deunta Williams, S, North Carolina
Aaron Williams, CB, Texas

The Jim Thorpe Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). The NCFAA was founded in 1997 as a coalition of the major collegiate football awards to protect, preserve and enhance the integrity, influence and prestige of the game's predominant awards. The NCFAA encourages professionalism and the highest standards for the administration of its member awards and the selection of their candidates and recipients. For more information, visit the association's official Web site, www.NCFAA.org.