Trio of Buckeyes land on Outland Trophy preseason watch list
COLUMBUS — Preseason award season just keeps proving how talented this Ohio State team can be.
The latest example comes from the Football Writers Association of America, which released the preseason watch list for the Outland Trophy, which is given annually to the top interior lineman in the country.
A trio of Buckeyes stars earned a spot on that preseason list, two on offense and one on the defensive side of the ball. Ohio State is one of five schools with three players on the list. Michigan has four. A total of 11 players from the Big Ten are on the preseason list.
Both of the returning offensive linemen for Ohio State, sixth-year senior guard Matthew Jones and third-year guard Donovan Jackson, are on the preseason list for that award. As is third-year defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr.
Four Ohio State players have won the award. None have since Orlando Pace did so in 1996.
Jones and Jackson will lead the Ohio State offensive line that must replace three starters this season. Both guards will be the anchors of that line, which needs to play at a high level this fall.
Hall, meanwhile, dazzled last season in limited playing time. A shoulder injury held him back, but he was still a disruptive force for the Buckeyes defensive line. He enters this season with high expectations as a potential superstar and first-round draft pick.
The recap of the preseason watch lists can be found below.
Pair of Ohio State stars named to Maxwell Award watch list
One of the most important preseason watch lists of the summer was released Monday morning, and a pair of Ohio State superstars are already gaining attention as potential winners. Junior wide receivers Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka were both named to the prestigious Maxwell Award watch list on Monday.
They’re among the 84 players, 10 of which are from the Big Ten Conference, to be selected for that watch list.
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Four Ohio State players have won the award. None have won it since Eddie George did it in 1995. The other three Buckeyes to win the award were Archie Griffin in 1975, Robert E. Ferguson in 1961 and Howard Cassidy in 1955. No Big Ten player has won the award since 2002 (Penn State’s Larry Johnson).
For Harrison and Egbuka, they’ve been gaining traction as the top wide receiver duo in college football for the entire offseason. Harrison was a first-team All-American last year after catching 77 passes for 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns. Egbuka wasn’t far behind him, catching 74 passes for 1,151 yards and 10 touchdowns. Together they formed one of the top tandems in the country.
Ryan Day named to watch list for Dodd Trophy
Ryan Day was named to the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Trophy preseason watch list earlier this offseason. The Dodd Trophy has been awarded to the top coach in college football every year since 1976.
The award ‘takes into consideration each program’s graduation rate, Graduation Success Rate (GSR), commitment to service and charity in the community, projected success for the 2023 season and Academic Progress Rate (APR),’ according to the Dodd Trophy website.
Only one Ohio State coach has ever won the prestigious coaching honor. Jim Tressel won it in 2002 when the Buckeyes beat Miami (Florida) for the national title.
Day is one of five Big Ten coaches on the watch list.
