Tag: awards watch list

Award watch lists littered with Oregon Ducks going into 2023 season

The Oregon Ducks have a long list of players who are up for some of the most prestigious awards in the nation going into the 2023 season.

As we get ready for the 2023 college football season, award watch-list season is certainly upon us. Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve seen some of the top players in the nation be nominated for awards that highlight their abilities.

While everyone knows about the Heisman Trophy, and most fans are familiar with other top honors like the Maxwell Award, the Biletnikoff Award, and the Butkus Award, there are many more that Oregon Duck players are in the running for.

Here is a look at all of the Oregon players who have been placed on award watch lists so far this offseason going into the start of the year.

Arkansas football lands one preseason CBS All-American

Arkansas safety Jalen Catalon could be the most decorated defender the Hogs have had in decades by the time he’s finished.

Most preseason all-conference and All-Americans lists have been released at this point, just about two weeks away from the big start of the college football season.

In the few that do remain, though, turns out Arkansas might be well-represented.

Razorbacks junior safety Jalen Catalon was named to one such list Wednesday as he was a second-team All-American for CBS Sports. The only safeties ahead of him on the first team were Notre Dame’s Brandon Joseph, Alabama’s Jordan Battle and Texas A&M’s Antonio Johnson.

Catalon was a Freshman All-American via the Associated Press (the primary All-American listing of record) two seasons ago. Last year, as a sophomore, he was hurt midway through the year, finishing the season with 46 tackles, two interceptions and four pass break-ups in just six games.

Catalon decided to return to Fayetteville for his junior season instead of going the NFL route, where he was projected to be a second-round pick. Now, without having played a game since, he’s already moved up to the late first round.

Arkansas opens its season September 3 at home against Cincinnati.

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Cam Little nominated for award named after an SEC legend

Cam Little made a donation to Down Syndrome Connection of Northwest Arkansas for every field goal he made last year.

Arkansas kicker Cam Little has spent just one year with the Razorbacks so far. But his willingness to be a team player and help others has already been noticed.

Little was Arkansas’ watch list player for the annual Wuerffel Trophy, which is given to the player in college football who best combines community service with athletic and academic achievement.

Earlier in the week Little was named to the Lou Groza Award watch list as potentially the nation’s best kicker.

The sophomore from Moore, Oklahoma, made 20 of 24 field goals last year, his first in a Hogs uniform. The 20 makes were third most in school history in a single season. He also booted true all 46 of his point-after attempts. Off the field, Little donated $10 for every field goal to Down Syndrome Connection of Northwest Arkansas.

The award will be announced during the College Football Awards Show on ESPN on December 8.

 

Reid Bauer known for more than miracle touchdown vs Alabama

Reid Bauer is a master of pinning Arkansas opponents deep in their own territory.

To most of the nation and the casual football-watching public, Reid Bauer is that guy who threw the touchdown pass on Arkansas’ fake field goal last year against Alabama.

And while that’s true, Bauer is getting some recognition for his so-called day job, too.

Arkansas’ senior punter was one of 48 players named to the Ray Guy Award watch list as the nation’s best college punter. Bauer punted 58 times last year for an average of 43.28 yards per kick. The rank was fourth in the SEC, but the key was pinning. Sixteen of Bauer’s punts were fielded or downed inside the opponent’s 20.

Yes, Bauer is most famous for the 33-yard scoring toss to Blake Kern last year, though. The touchdown pulled Arkansas within six points of the Crimson Tide in the fourth quarter before Jameson Williams’ touchdown with 5:38 left provided Alabama’s insurance.

The Ray Guy Award will be given out December 8 as part of the College Football Awards presentation.

After best freshman season in school history, Cam Little getting national notice

Arkansas kicker Cam Little had the best first year the Razorbacks have ever seen at the position.

It took a grand total of one season for Cam Little to put his name on the shortlist of best Arkansas kickers in school history.

And while he isn’t at the top of the mountain yet, the sophomore is trending that way. On Wednesday, Little was one of just 30 players named to the Lou Groza Award watch list. The Groza Award is, as probably guessed, given to the nation’s best collegiate kicker.

Last year, in his first college season, Little went 21 for 27 on field-goal attempts for the Razorbacks and booted through all 46 extra points. His 106 points were the most for an Arkansas kicker since Zach Hocker had 118 in 2011, the season the Hogs went 11-2.

Little’s year earned him Freshman All-American honors from three different publications and an All-SEC Freshman team selection.

The list of 30 is trimmed to 20 on November 3 then three finalists on November 22. The winner of the award is announced December 8.

Notre Dame’s Daelin Hayes named to Wuerffel Trophy Watch List

Notre Dame star defender Daelin Hayes is more than just a football player and the community service award has taken notice.

What would a day this week be without celebrating Watch List Season 2020?

Yesterday it was kicker Jonathan Doerer that saw his name added to a watch list and today we see defensive lineman Daelin Hayes get his name added to an awards list.

Hayes along with 113 different football players from FBS schools were named to the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List on Thursday.

The Wuerffel Trophy, named for former Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel of Florida, is college football’s award for community service, essentially the college version of the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award that the NFL annually hands out.

Hayes has been very vocal about fighting for social justice as he helped put together the recent peaceful march and rally on Notre Dame’s campus on Juneteenth.

Notre Dame’s Drue Tranquill, now of the Los Angeles Chargers, won the Wuerffel Trophy in 2018.

For more information on the Wuerffel Trophy check out their web-page.