Tag: Outland Trophy

Notre Dame DT Howard Cross III takes home a national award after Week 5

Congrats Howard!

One of the unsung heroes of Notre Dame football’s defense is tackle [autotag]Howard Cross III[/autotag].

While he did have a monster season in 2023, most don’t often credit a defensive tackle for their play. That’s not the case with the All-American as Cross was named the [autotag]Outland Trophy[/autotag] National Player of the Week after his play against Louisville.

Cross has picked up where he left off last year, as they pointed out that he had a 88.2 grade by Pro Football Focus against the Cardinals. He garnered 5 quarterback pressures to go along with “four ‘wins’against Louisville offensive lineman,” according to Outland’s release.

Not only that, Cross dominated against the run game, getting 18 pass rush ‘wins’ according to PFF’s metrics. That is the kind of performance that we are getting used to from the senior. He’s never going to fill up a box score, but his impact is felt way beyond that.

Congrats Howard on the national recognition.

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Will Campbell named Outland Trophy National Player of the Week

Will Campbell had the highest pass-blocking grade in the nation in Week 4 according to Pro Football Focus.

Despite losing a lot of skill-position talent, LSU hasn’t missed much of a beat on offense in 2024. An elite offensive line, anchored by a potential top-five pick in left tackle [autotag]Will Campbell[/autotag], is a major reason why.

Campbell turned in another impressive performance in Saturday’s 34-17 home win over UCLA, registering the nation’s highest pass protection grade of 90.1 according to Pro Football Focus. For his efforts, he’s been named the Outland Trophy National Player of the Week.

It was the first time this season that Campbell has registered a run and pass blocking grade of 80 or above, and he didn’t allow a single pressure on 44 pass attempts on Saturday.

https://twitter.com/LSUfootball/status/1838610786014630196

He’s certainly in the mix for the Outland Trophy, given to the top offensive lineman in the nation. The preseason All-American and First-Team All-SEC selection was named to the preseason watch list for the award.

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Alabama’s entire O-Line named Outland Trophy National Players of the Week

Entire Alabama starting offensive line named Outland Trophy National Players of the Week after mauling Wisconsin.

The Alabama Crimson Tide went up north and pushed around the Wisconsin Badgers in a dominating 42-10 victory. Heisman contender QB Jalen Milroe and speedster WR Ryan Williams dominated the headlines for good reason, but it was the Tide offensive line that paved the way to success.

Alabama found a ton of success on the ground with 181 yards averaging 5.3 yards a carry. They also allowed only two sacks on the day and kept a very clean pocket in pass protection. Despite not having a ton of flash, transfer C Parker Brailsford has been one of the best portal additions in the entire country so far this year.

As a result of the Tide’s dominating performance in Madison, the entire Alabama offensive line was recognized as Outland Trophy National Players of the Week. With Elijah Pritchett and Kadyn Proctor both back in the starting line up, Alabama looked significantly better than they had in Week 2.

However, Alabama’s toughest test is still ahead as the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs come to town on Sept. 28 after the bye.

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UNC defensive tackle Jahvaree Ritzie earns honor after week 1

Jahvaree Ritzie’s Week 1 breakout game at Minnesota gained himself some well-deserved national recognition.

Jahvaree Ritzie was undoubtedly the greatest defensive difference-maker in the UNC football team’s 19-17 victory over Minnesota last week.

Ritzie, who played largely as a reserve during his first three years as North Carolina, registered three tackles for loss and sacked Golden Gophers quarterback Max Brosmer three times. When Ritzie wasn’t stuffing the stat sheet, he was bowling through Minnesota’s offensive line and disrupting the offensive rhythm.

Arguably Thursday’s greatest beneficiary in new defensive coordinator Geoff Collins’ pressure-heavy scheme, Ritzie was named the Outland Trophy Player of the Week.

Despite allowing the Gophers to march down the field and set up a game-winning field goal try, the Tar Heel defense showed major improvements from the past two seasons.

As a team, UNC limited Minnesota to under 250 yards. Kaimon Rucker, Amare Campbell and Kaleb Cost joined Ritzie in the sack parade, while NC State transfer Jakeen Harris was the lone player with 10 tackles.

The Outland Trophy is given annually to the nation’s best interior lineman – on both sides of the ball.

Ritzie’s National honors follow his ACC Player of the Week honors. Ritzie played all 13 games last year as a reserve, recording just 25 tackles, a half sack, half-TFL, one pass deflection and one forced fumble, but started half of North Carolina’s 2022 games.

What kind of performance will Ritzie deliver for an encore in Saturday’s home opener?

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Two Kentucky Wildcats are on the Outland Trophy preseason watch list

Deone Walker and Eli Cox are both on the Outland Trophy preseason watch list.

First, Deone Walker and Max Hairston were announced as being on the watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Award. Then, Hairston made the preseason watch list for the Jim Thorpe Award. On Wednesday, the watch list for the Outland Trophy listed two Wildcats to watch.

The Outland Trophy is given each season to the best lineman in college football, whether it’s on offense or defense. Kentucky has one of each on the list.

Related: Kentucky’s last win against every SEC team

Deone Walker is the defensive representative on the list. At 6’6″, 345 lbs, he is a massive presence up front for the Wildcats. His performance has also been big, as he recorded 55 tackles, including 12.5 for a loss. He also rushed the quarterback well for someone his size, and totaled 7.5 sacks on the season.

On the offensive side of the ball, Eli Cox has developed into one of the country’s best centers. The sixth-year Senior is a team captain, and has 35 starts under his belt.

Obviously, fans will have to wait a while before finding out if any of the Wildcats win these awards. However, Big Blue Nation has to be happy to have so many talented players on this year’s squad.

Three USC football players make 2024 Outland Trophy Watch List

Jonah Monheim and Bear Alexander are Outland Trophy candidates.

It is that time of year: award watch list season. Players across the country are being included on watch lists for the various college football awards which will be handed out in December after the regular season ends. USC football players are included on this list. A USC athletic department presser made it official: Jonah Monheim, Bear Alexander, and Emmanuel Pregnon are on the Outland Trophy Watch list.

The Outland Trophy goes to the best interior lineman in college football. USC doesn’t have elite depth at the position across the board, but the Trojans definitely have a few individual stars. Monheim and Alexander are the two big shining lights in the trenches for the Trojans. If USC is going to be good this season, those two players have to lead the way on offense and defense, respectively.

They will also need help. One man is not enough to make a complete defense, as Tuli Tuipulotu found out for USC in 2022.

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Two LSU Tigers make the preseason watch list for the Outland Trophy

The Outland Trophy recognizes the best interior lineman in the country every season.

The Outland Trophy recognizes the best interior lineman in the country every season. Last season, T’Vondre Sweat from Texas took home the coveted trophy. On Tuesday, the preseason watch list was released for the Outland Trophy in 2024 and two of the Tigers’ best offensive linemen have made the list.

[autotag]Will Campbell[/autotag] and [autotag]Emery Jones Jr.[/autotag] are on the watch list. That is no surprise to most as these two players are two of the best offensive tackles in the country. Campbell is considered the No. 1 offensive tackle prospect in the 2025 NFL draft.

Campbell is a junior offensive tackle who started for LSU as a freshman. He has played in 26 games in two years and has shined. He made such an impact that he was honored with the No. 7 patch on his jersey to recognize that he embodies what it means to be a Tiger.

Jones Jr. was in the same recruiting class as Campbell and just like Campbell, he has played in 26 games in two seasons. He started in 24 of those games and is a huge reason why [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] won the Heisman last fall.

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Three Ohio State players make Outland Trophy preseason watch list

Three more Buckeyes on a preseason watch list! #GoBucks

‘Tis the season of watch lists for college football, and we had two of them drop Tuesday. We saw four Ohio State players make the Bronko Nagurski preseason watch list, and that was followed up with three Buckeye football players making their way on the Outland watch list.

The Outland Trophy was originally handed out in 1946 by the Football Writers Association of America and is given to the best interior lineman in college football annually.

The Georgia Bulldogs lead the way with four players on the preason watch list, but Ohio State is tied with Alabama and USC for second place with three each. For the Buckeyes, offensive linemen Josh Fryar and Donovan Jackson, as well as defensive lineman, Tyleik Williams, are all appearing among the 75 names.

The Outland Trophy will be awarded on December 12 during the Home Depot College Awards show broadcast by ESPN.

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Sal Wormley named to 2024 Outland Trophy watch list

Penn State offensive lineman Sal Wormely looking to win school’s second Outland Trophy.

College football’s award watch list season is in full swing this week, and a number of Penn State players are having their names thrown on the national radar as a result. On Tuesday, the Outland Trophy watch list was released by the Football Writers Association of America, and offensive lineman Sal Wormley was included.

The Outland Trophy is awarded to the nation’s top interior lineman and can go to an offensive or defensive player. The award is named after John Outland, a former All-American at two positions who played college football for Penn and Kansas in the late 1890s. The award was first presented in 1946 to Notre Dame tackle George Connor.

Wormley is looking to become just the second Penn State player to win the award. The only other Nittany Lion to win the Outland Trophy in its history is Mike Reid, who did so in 1969. Wormley started all 13 games for the Nittany Lions last season, starting every game at right guard. He is expected to remain at right guard this season. T’Vondre Seat of Texas was last season’s Outland Trophy winner.

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Standout OT Kelvin Banks Jr. named to preseason Outland Trophy watch list

No surprises here with Banks being added to the list.

On top of the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list being revealed on Tuesday, the FWAA also announced the 75-player watch list for the Outland Trophy. This trophy is given annually to the outstanding interior lineman. Last year Texas defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat won the award and the Longhorns could go back-to-back this year.

Texas Longhorns [autotag]Kelvin Banks Jr[/autotag]. was named to the preseason Outland Trophy watch list on Tuesday. He is among the players who could be a top-five pick in the 2025 NFL draft next April. Banks is widely regarded as one of the two best tackles, LSU’s Will Campbell being the other.

Last season, Banks started all 14 games at left tackle. He has started every game of his collegiate career over the first two seasons. Banks led the team with an 86.8 pass-blocking grade from PFF and played a total of 983 snaps.

He will be key for the success of the offensive line as they attempt to contend for the Joe Moore Award, given annually to the best offensive line in college football. With Banks at left tackle, the Longhorns were able to rush for a combined 2,638 rushing yards with 29 touchdowns. As a pass-blocking unit, the team allowed Texas to pass for 4,047 yards and 25 touchdowns.

Keep your eyes on Kelvin Banks Jr. this season as he looks to lead the Longhorns back to the College Football Playoffs and secure the school’s fifth national championship in a loaded conference. It won’t be an easy task but they have the roster to do it, now they just have to prove it.