Three Buckeyes named to preseason watch list for Outland Trophy
COLUMBUS — Another day, another preseason trophy watch list littered with Ohio State talent. The latest comes from the Outland Trophy, which is given annually to the best interior lineman, offense or defense, in college football.
Three Buckeyes found themselves on that prestigious preseason watch list. Starting right tackle Josh Fryar, starting left guard Donovan Jackson and starting defensive tackle Tyleik Williams are all on the preseason watch list.
Georgia leads the way with four players on the watch list. Ohio State is tied for second-most with USC and Alabama. Michigan has two defensive stars on the watch list.
According to the Outland Trophy website, ‘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.’
Four Ohio State players have won the award since it began honoring linemen in 1946. Jim Parker won it in 1956, Jim Stillwagon won it in 1970, John Hicks received the award in 1973 and Orlando Pace won it in 1996, the same year he was a Heisman Trophy finalist as a left tackle.
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Three Buckeyes also on Maxwell Award watch list
The Maxwell Award, given to the best player in all of college football, released its annual preseason watch list on Monday, and three Buckeyes superstars landed on the list. They’ll open the season with Maxwell Award aspirations.
Former Kansas State star Will Howard, the presumed Buckeyes starting quarterback and former Big 12 champion with the Wildcats, is on the Maxwell Award preseason watch list. He enters camp this week in the middle of a battle with third-year Ohio State quarterback Devin Brown. Whoever wins that battle will have sky-high expectations and will be tasked with leading this high-powered offense to great heights. Howard is the favorite to win the job, so he’s on the watch list for the Maxwell Award.
Then there’s former Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins, the former two-time All-SEC tailback who transferred to Ohio State and is now showing up on the watch list for the Maxwell Award. After back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns for the Rebels, he will team up with third-year Ohio State back TreVeyon Henderson to form the best backfield in the country. Both backs have high expectations to meet, and the folks handing out awards like Judkins enough to make sure he’s included.
Finally, the Maxwell Award preseason watch list includes Ohio State superstar senior receiver Emeka Egbuka. After posting 1,151 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns as a sophomore, Egbuka battled an ankle injury last year and still posted good numbers. He chose to return to the Buckeyes as the top receiver on the roster rather than heading for the NFL Draft. He’s expected to be the best weapon in the receiver room — and maybe on the offense. The Maxwell Award watch list reflects that.
