BTN.com staff, BTN.com staff, July 9, 2014
It's early July, and that means it's preseason college football awards watch lists season. See which Big Ten players were named to the Lou Groza Award and Ray Guy Award watch lists in this post.
[ MORE: Tom Dienhart ranks Big Ten special teams units ]
Lou Groza Award (Kicker): Brad Craddock, Maryland; Michael Geiger, Michigan State
Ray Guy Award (Punter): Cameron Johnston, Ohio State; Peter Mortell, Minnesota; Mike Sadler, Michigan State
Here's a look at the full schedule of preseason watch lists:
Thursday, July 10
– Bronko Nagurski Trophy, presented to the nation?s most outstanding defensive player by the Charlotte Touchdown Club.
– Outland Trophy, presented to the nation?s most outstanding interior lineman by the Football Writers Association of America.
Friday, July 11
– Jim Thorpe Award, presented to the nation?s best defensive back by the Jim Thorpe Association.
Monday, July 14
– Butkus Award, presented to the nation?s best linebacker by the Butkus Foundation.
– Rotary Lombardi Award, presented to the college lineman of the year by the Rotary Club of Houston.
Tuesday, July 15
– Biletnikoff Award, presented to the nation?s outstanding college receiver by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation.
Wednesday, July 16
– Davey O?Brien Award, presented to the nation?s best quarterback by the Davey O?Brien Foundation.
Thursday, July 17
– Doak Walker Award, presented to the nation?s premier running back by the PwC SMU Athletic Forum.
Friday, July 18
– Walter Camp Award, presented to the nation?s most outstanding player by the Walter Camp Football Foundation.
2014 PRESEASON AWARDS WATCH LISTS
Maxwell Award (Player of the Year): Ameer Abdullah, RB, Nebraska; Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State; Stefon Diggs, WR, Maryland; Devin Funchess, WR, Michigan; Devin Gardner, QB, Michigan; Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin; Christian Hackenberg, QB, Penn State; Jeremy Langford, RB, Michigan State; Venric Mark, RB, Northwestern; Braxton Miller, QB, Ohio State
Bednarik Award (Defensive Player of the Year): Michael Bennett, DT, Ohio State; Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State; Shilique Calhoun, DE, Michigan State; Frank Clark, DE, Michigan; Carl Davis, DT, Iowa; Kurtis Drummond, S, Michigan State; Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska; Jordan Lucas, CB, Penn State; Jake Ryan, LB, Michigan; Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
Mackey Award (Tight end): Kyle Carter, Penn State; Jeff Heuerman, Ohio State; Jesse James, Penn State; Tyler Kroft, Rutgers; Maxx Williams, Minnesota
Rimington Trophy (Center): Jack Allen, Michigan State; Austin Blythe, Iowa; Betim Bujari, Rutgers; Sal Conaboy, Maryland; Robert Kugler, Purdue; Tommy Olson, Minnesota; Mark Pelini, Nebraska; Collin Rahrig, Indiana; Brandon Vitabile, Northwestern; Dan Voltz, Wisconsin