Tag: Tyler Davis

Duke’s Graham Barton set for tough test against Clemson’s front seven

Duke OT Graham Barton set for tough test against Clemson’s front seven in a Monday night draft spotlight

The Labor Day Weekend slate of college football games comes to an end tonight with an ACC showdown between Clemson and Duke. 

A lot of eyes will be on Duke’s quarterback and how he fares against a Clemson defense that could have up to nine players selected in the 2024 NFL Draft. 

Duke’s Graham Barton will also have scouts flocking to Durham this fall. The Blue Devil left tackle will face a stern test right out of the gates against Clemson’s front seven, which is loaded with future players that will be playing on Sundays. 

Barton started five games at center during his first year at Duke. Over the past two seasons, Barton has started 25 games at left tackle and gave up two sacks during 13 starts last season. 

The versatile offensive lineman has excellent quickness and hits his marks out in space. He has quick feet and adequate functional strength. 

The 30-game starter will be in a battle all night against a Clemson front seven that boasts edge rusher Xavier Thomas, defensive tackles Tyler Davis, Ruke Orhorhoro, Payton Page, and linebackers Barrett Carter and Jermiah Trotter Jr.

Thomas enters his sixth and final season at Clemson with 29 tackles for loss and 15 sacks to his name. In three games last season, Thomas recorded two sacks in just three games last season as he missed time with an ankle injury. Thomas has a quick first step and showcases excellent burst to close on the quarterback. 

The duo of Davis and Orhorhoro both opted to return to school after initially accepting invites to the Senior Bowl. 

Davis finished last season with 9.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. He explodes off the snap and collapses by driving offensive lineman back with his power. According to Pro Football Focus, Davis logged 36 pressures last season. 

Over the past two seasons, Orhorhoro has recorded 16 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. The Clemson defensive lineman is a terror for offensive lineman with his first-step quickness. He has powerful hands and is strong at the point of attack. 

Carter is a dynamic athlete with sideline-to-sideline range. He flies around the football field and has plus coverage skills, showcasing the ability to turn and run with tight ends and running backs. The Clemson linebacker finished last season with 73 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, two interceptions and eight pass deflections. 

Trotter Jr., the son of long-time NFL linebacker, Jeremiah Trotter has been around the game for a long time and it shows with his instincts. He’s quick to decipher the action in front of him and explodes downhill to thwart the action in the hole. He’s always in the right place and when he arrives at the ball carrier he delivers a thud. The Clemson linebacker finished last season with 89 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, two interceptions and five pass deflections.

 

Packers sign rookie LB Marvin Pierre, place TE Tyler Davis on IR

The Packers signed rookie LB Marvin Pierre to the 90-man roster and placed TE Tyler Davis on injured reserve, ending his season.

The Green Bay Packers signed rookie linebacker Marvin Pierre and placed tight end Tyler Davis on injured reserve on Monday.

Davis tore his ACL during the Packers’ preseason-opening win over the Cincinnati Bengals and will miss the rest of the season.

With an open roster spot, the Packers signed Pierre, who went undrafted out of Kent State in 2023. He spent time earlier this year with the Arizona Cardinals but was released in early June. Pierre (6-2, 222) produced 96 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception over 11 games during his final collegiate season in 2022.

Per PFF, Pierre produced 46 stops and 10 total pressures over 716 snaps for Kent State last season. His 46 stops ranked tied for 30th among all collegiate linebackers. He also missed 14 tackles. On special teams, Pierre was credited with eight tackles but also six more missed tackles.

Pierre’s Relative Athletic Score at linebacker is 9.08 out of 10.0. His draft profile at NFL.com can be found here.

In Pierre, the Packers are getting extra depth and athleticism at linebacker going into the final week of training camp. Depth is light with De’Vondre Campbell nursing an ankle injury. The final week is also a chance to see if Pierre can come in and immediately contribute on Rich Bisaccia’s special teams. A spot on the practice squad could be the prize if Pierre impresses right away.

Pierre will wear No. 54 for the Packers.

Four Tigers named AP Preseason All-Americans

Clemson is well-represented in the AP Preseason All-American teams.

The Associated Press preseason All-America team was announced Monday, with multiple Tigers making the cut as some of the best players in college football. 

From top to bottom, the Clemson football roster has talent, and expectations are high for the program in 2023. To achieve their goals, each of these preseason All-Americans will need to perform at a high level and prove why they earned their spot here in the first place. 

Four Tigers made AP Preseason All-American teams, with three on defense and one on offense. Here is a look at each of these four Tigers and what team they made.

Athlon Sports ranks Clemson with the No.2 defensive line in college football

Clemson’s defensive line is once again one of the best in the country heading into the 2023 season.

The Clemson football program has developed into one of the best in college football, and the thing they are known for the most is the stellar defensive lines they produce year after year. 

Heading into the 2023 season, this won’t be changing as the Tigers once again have a talented defensive line unit that remains one of the best in the country. According to Athlon Sports’ College Football’s Top 15 Defensive Lines for 2023, The Tigers D-Line ranks No.2 in the country. 

The Tigers continue to churn out elite talent up front and seemingly have an annual spot at or near the top of the defensive lines in college football. Bryan Bresee departed to the NFL, but the interior remains stout with Ruke Orhorhoro and Tyler Davis. True freshman Peter Woods is also expected to see significant snaps in the middle. Restocking the edge to replace K.J. Henry and Myles Murphy (10 combined sacks) is a priority in fall practice. But coach Dabo Swinney’s group isn’t hurting for talent here. Xavier Thomas looks to close out his career on a high note after battling injuries over the last couple of years. Senior Justin Mascoll is expected to man the other end spot.

Not only did the Tigers return talent, they brought talent into the program. Freshman Peter Woods, in particular, could have a monster year at defensive tackle. He is expected to be an immediate impact player for Wes Goodwin’s defense.
Another year, another strong Clemson defensive line.
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Three Tigers listed on the Lombardi Award Watch List

Three Clemson players have been named to the Lombardi Award Watch List.

The Rotary Club of Houston announced today that linebacker Barrett Carter, defensive tackle Tyler Davis and linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. have been named as three of 80 candidates on the watch list for the Lombardi Award.

The Lombardi Award™ goes annually to the college football offensive or defensive lineman who exemplifies the character and discipline of NFL Hall of Fame Head Coach Vince Lombardi in addition to outstanding performance and ability.

This year’s watch list is filled with talent from many schools and conferences, making for an exciting voting process. To be considered for the Lombardi Award™, players must be an NCAA FBS College Football team member and meet the following qualifications:

  • Be a down Lineman, end to end, either on offense or defense, setting up no further than ten (10) yards to the left or right of the ball at the time of the snap.
  • Be a Linebacker on defense, setting up no further than five (5) yards deep from the line of scrimmage.
  • Must not come out of the offensive backfield and set up on the line of scrimmage as a Blocker or a Receiver or listed in the program as an Offensive Back or Receiver.
  • Be eligible to participate in the current season.

The voting process will follow this schedule.

  • October 18 – 30, 2023: Vote to determine Semi-finalists.
  • November 1, 2023: Semi-finalists announcement
  • November 2 – 13, 2023: Vote to determine Four Finalists
  • November 15, 2023: Four Finalists announcement
  • November 17 – December 4, 2023: Final vote to determine the winner.
  • December 6, 2023: Lombardi Award™ Winner announced.

A mid-season watch list will be released on Oct 13 to reflect any updates to the current list.

Introducing the 2023 Lombardi Award™ Watchlist – a compilation of standout linemen from across college football. This list is meticulously assembled by a subcommittee of the Lombardi Award™ committee, with a keen eye on players’ previous performances and potential for the upcoming 2023 college football season. Athletes must have participated in at least one NCAA Division I college or university game to merit inclusion.

In this edition, all ten Division-I FBS conferences and a few Independents are represented in the 80-player watch list, fostering anticipation for an electrifying season of gridiron action. The SEC and the Big Ten Conference are poised for success, boasting a combined 33 selections. Twelve players hold spots on this watch list from the previous season’s College Football Playoff teams alone– Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, and Texas Christian University.

The Big Ten is represented by players from Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio State, Penn State, and Wisconsin. The Big Ten showcases figures like J.T. Tuimoloau, Olumuyiwa Fashanu, and Brevyn Spann-Ford. Tuimoloau, a remarkable defensive end from Ohio State, emerged as a true game-changer last year with a blend of sacks, interceptions, and versatile play. Tuimoloau is joined by teammates Donovan Jackson, Michael Hall Jr., and Tommy Eichenberg, supporting another explosive season for the Buckeyes. Penn State’s offensive tackle Fashanu is projected to be one of the first offensive tackles off the board in the 2024 NFL Draft and has the size and skills to lead the Nittany Lions’ offense to success in 2023. Minnesota’s Brevyn Spann-Ford has played lights out, is at the top of many draft boards and he is expected to lead the Gophers this season.

Georgia strongly represents the SEC, with five players selected to our watch list, highlighted by our 2022 Finalist Brock Bowers. He was a dominant force for the Bulldogs in 2022, recording top 10 PFF blocking grades and 63 catches for 942 yards and seven touchdowns. Georgia’s other selections are Sedrick Van Pran (OC), Tate Ratledge (OG), Jamon Dumas-Johnson (LB), and Mykel Williams (DE). Fellow SEC powerhouse Alabama joins Georgia with two players; J.C. Latham is a two-year starter at the offensive tackle position; he’s a physical blocker with excellent pass protection abilities. He will be vital to the Crimson Tide’s success in 2023. He is joined on the watchlist by teammate Dallas Turner, a rising star on the Alabama defense. Turner had 37 tackles, 8 for loss, and four sacks 2022. He is a versatile linebacker who can play in space or the trenches.

The Pac-12 is well represented with 11 players from Arizona, California – Berkeley, Oregon, Oregon State, UCLA, USC, Utah, and Washington. The Washington Huskies is led by pre-season first-team All-Americans (Phil Steele and Walter Camp), defensive end Bralen Trice. He had nine sacks in 2022 and is a mauler for opponents. He is projected to be a top-10 selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. Representing Oregon as defensive end Brandon Dorlus, his 88 QB pressures over the last two years lead all returning Power Five edge defenders. Another top defensive end prospect joins them, UCLA’s Laiatu Latu, one of the most productive edge defenders in the country. Among Power Five edge defenders, Latu was tied for second in pressures (64), third in pressure rate (21.7%), and tied for third in sacks (12).

The Big 12 brings back a few players on the previous year’s watchlist, Kansas State’s Cooper Beebe (OG) and West Virginia’s Zach Frazier (OC). Beebe has started 35 career games for the Wildcats and has not surrendered a sack in his last 803 pass-blocking plays dating back to the 2020 Iowa State contest, according to Pro Football Focus. Zach Frazier has been one of the most consistent centers in college football and is expected to be one of the first from his position selected for the 2024 NFL Draft. The Big 12 also has selections from Cincinnati, Kansas, Oklahoma, TCU, Texas, and Texas Tech.

Two of our most anticipated selections are projected to be top picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. Notre Dame’s Joe Alt is a two-year starter at the tackle position on the elite Irish offensive line. He is a physical blocker with impressive pass protection abilities; he is projected to be a top-5 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Another top NFL prospect is Florida State’s Jared Verse. Verse is a versatile defender who can play defensive end or outside linebacker. He had five sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss in 2022. He is a disruptive pass rusher with abilities that track well for quick opportunities for playing time in the NFL in 2024.

By Conference: Big Ten (19), SEC (14), Big 12 (12), Pac-12 (11), ACC (11), American (4), Sun Belt (4), Independent (2), MAC (1), Mountain West (1)

Full List sorted alphabetically:

Jaylon Allen, Memphis, Gr., DL
Joe Alt, Notre Dame, Jr., OT
Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas, So., OT
Jaishawn Barham, Maryland, So., LB
Graham Barton, Duke, Sr., OT
Cooper Beebe, Kansas State, Sr., OG
Brock Bowers, Georgia, Jr., TE
Jacob Busic, Navy, Sr., DE
Barrett Carter, Clemson, Jr., LB
DeWayne Carter, Duke, Rs. Sr., DT
Abdul Carter, Penn State, So., LB
Brandon Coleman, TCU, Sr., OT
Junior Colson, Michigan, Jr., LB
Marley Cook, Middle Tennessee, Rs. Jr., DT
Dontay Corleone, Cincinnati, Rs. So., DL
Tyler Davis, Clemson, Gr., DT
Justin Dedich, USC, Rs. Sr., OC
Brandon Dorlus, Oregon, Sr., DE
Ethan Downs, Oklahoma, Jr., DE
Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Georgia, Jr., LB
Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State, Gr., LB
D’Mitri Emmanuel, Florida State, Rs. Sr., OG
Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State, Jr., OT
Troy Fautanu, Washington, Jr., OT
Jaylan Ford, Texas, Sr., LB
Javon Foster, Missouri, Gr., OT
Zach Frazier, West Virginia, Jr., OC
Tailese Fuaga, Oregon State, Jr., OG
Dallas Gant, Toledo, Sr., LB
AJ Gillie, Louisana, Rs. Jr., OG
Delmar Glaze, Maryland, Rs. Jr., OT
Cedric Gray, North Carolina, Sr., LB
Michael Hall Jr., Ohio State, Jr., DT
Christian Haynes, UConn, Rs. Sr., OG
Jason Henderson, Old Dominion, Jr, LB
Branson Hickman, SMU, Jr., OC
Jaylon Hutchings, Texas Tech, Gr., DL
Nick Jackson, Iowa, Sr., LB
Donovan Jackson, Ohio State, Jr., OG
McKinnley Jackson, Texas A&M, Sr, DT
Kris Jenkins, Michigan, Sr., DT
Michael Jurgens, Wake Forest, Rs. Sr., OG
JT Killen, Coastal Carolina, Rs. Sr., LB
J.C. Latham, Alabama, Jr., OT
Laiatu Latu, UCLA, Sr., DE
Beaux Limmer, Arkansas, Rs. Sr., OT
Christian Mahogany, Boston College, Gr., OG
Jonah Monheim, USC, Rs. Jr., OT
Jordan Morgan, Arizona, Sr., OT
Gabriel Murphy, UCLA, Rs. Jr., DE
Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois, Jr., DT
Maema Njongmeta, Wisconsin, Rs. Sr., LB
Mike Novitsky, Kansas, Rs. Sr., OC
Drake Nugent, Michigan, Gr., OC
Thor Paglialong, Air Force, Sr., OC
Josh Pearcy, Rice, Rs. Jr., DE
Harold Perkins, LSU, So., LB
Owen Porter, Marshall, Rs Sr, DE
Keith Randolph Jr., Illinois, Jr., DT
Tate Ratledge, Georgia, Jr., OG
Luke Reimer, Nebraska, Sr., LB
Chop Robinson, Penn State, Jr., DE
Ja’Tavion Sanders, Texas, Jr., TE
Jackson Sirmon, California – Berkley, Rs. Sr., LB
Brevyn Spann-Ford, Minnesota, Gr., TE
Kingsley Suamataia, BYU, So., OT
Junior Tafuna, Utah, Jr., DT
Bralen Trice, Washington, Sr., DE
Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Clemson, Jr., LB
JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State, Jr., DE
Dallas Turner, Alabama, Jr., LB
Princely Umanmielen, Florida, Jr. ,DE
Sedrick Van Pran, Georgia, Rs. So., OC
Jared Verse, Florida State, Rs. Jr., DE
Nathaniel Watson, Mississippi State, Gr., LB
Marlowe Wax, Syracuse, Jr., LB
Damonic Williams, TCU, So., DT
Mykel Williams, Georgia, So., DL
Mekhi Wingo, LSU, Jr., DT
Zak Zinter, Michigan, Sr., OG

About the Lombardi Award™
Just weeks after Coach Vince Lombardi’s 1970 death from colon cancer, the Rotary Club of Houston was authorized by Lombardi’s widow, Marie, to establish the Lombardi Award™. As stipulated by Mrs. Lombardi, net proceeds from the Award’s activities are contributed to Cancer Research and specifically the American Cancer Society’s programs.

For additional information, visit http://www.lombardiaward.org.

-Via Press Release

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Four Tigers make the 247Sports college football top 100 players for 2023.

Like ESPN, 247Sports has four Tigers in their top 100 player rankings for 2023.

The 2023 college football season fast approaches as Dabo Swinney ad the Clemson football program prepare for a season that could be one of the most significant in recent memory for the Tigers.

As we inch closer to the start of the season, media outlets have begun releasing rankings for the top players heading into this college football season. The first we looked into was ESPN’s; now it is 247Sports who have released theirs. 

Like ESPN, four Tigers made 247Sports rankings of college football’s top 100 players for 2023. Here is a look at each of those Tigers and what writer Blake Blake Brockermeyer had to say about them.

Four Tigers make ESPN’s top 100 college football players for 2023

Four Tigers were listed among college football’s top 100 players by ESPN.

The Clemson football program heads into the 2023 college football season with high expectations and the talent needed to produce on those expectations. 

On defense, year after year, the Tigers’ are one of the top defensive teams in the country, with talent all over the field. This season, it is the Clemson linebacker core that will highlight the defense as the best starting linebacker duo in the country leads the team.

On offense, Clemson has one of the best running backs in football and a team around him that is expected to take the next step and produce at a higher level than last season. 2023 should be a great year for the program.

Recently, ESPN released their top 100 player rankings for the 2023 college football season, with four Tigers making the list. Here is a look at each of the fours ranking and what the ESPN staff had to say about them.

Three Tigers named to the Bednarik Award watch list, presented annually to the nation’s most outstanding defensive player

Three Tigers on the Bednarik Award watch list heading into the 2023 college football season.

The Maxwell Football Club announced today that linebacker Barrett Carter, defensive tackle Tyler Davis and linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. have been named as three of 85 candidates on the watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Award, presented annually to the nation’s most outstanding defensive player. Clemson and Penn State are the only programs in the nation to feature three members on the watch list in 2023.

Additional information from the Maxwell Football Club is included below. Visit the 2023 Preseason Honors hub for more preseason accolades garnered by Clemson.

The Maxwell Football Club today announced its watch list for the 29th Chuck Bednarik Award presented annually to the outstanding defensive player in college football.

The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1994 and is named in honor of Chuck “Concrete Charlie” Bednarik who was an All-American player at the University of Pennsylvania and later a multiple year All Pro linebacker and center for the Philadelphia Eagles. He is a member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame and was the last NFL player to be a full-time player on both offense and defense.

The Bednarik Award watch list will once again incorporate a broad spectrum of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs and conferences from coast to coast, led by 5 returning 2022 semifinalists: Kool-Aid McKinstry (Alabama), Tyler Davis (Clemson), Jer’Zhan Newton (Illinois), Tommy Eichenberg (Ohio State) and Jason Henderson (Old Dominion). Clemson and Penn State lead the way with 3 candidates each with an additional 9 schools boasting 2 candidates.

Last year’s Chuck Bednarik Award winner was Will Anderson Jr. (Alabama) who went on to be the 1st round selection of the Houston Texans in the 2023 NFL Draft. Anderson joined Alabama greats Jonathan Allen (2016) and Minkah Fitzpatrick (2017) as the third Crimson Tide player to win the award.

S Trey Taylor, Air Force
CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama
LB Dallas Turner, Alabama
LB Leo Lowin, Army
CB D.J. James, Auburn
LB DJ Schramm, Boise State
DE Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College
LB Shaun Dolac, Buffalo
LB Ben Bywater, BYU
LB Jackson Sirmon, Cal
DT Dontay Corleone, Cincinnati
DT Tyler Davis, Clemson
LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Clemson
LB Barrett Carter, Clemson
S Jack Howell, Colorado State
LB Jackson Mitchell, Connecticut
DT DeWayne Carter, Duke
DE Princely Umanmielen, Florida
DE Jared Verse, Florida State
LB Levelle Bailey, Fresno State
DB Javon Bullard, Georgia
LB Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Georgia
S LaMiles Brooks, Georgia Tech
DL Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois
DL Keith Randolph, Illinois
DL Andre Carter, Indiana
CB Cooper DeJean, Iowa
CB T.J. Tampa, Iowa State
CB Cobee Bryant, Kansas
S Kobe Savage, Kansas State
LB J.J. Weaver, Kentucky
LB Harold Perkins, LSU
DE Owen Porter, Marshall
LB Jaishawn Barham, Maryland
DT Leonard Taylor, Miami
S Kamren Kinchens, Miami
DT Kris Jenkins, Michigan
LB Junior Colson, Michigan
LB Cal Haladay, Michigan State
S Tyler Nubin, Minnesota
LB Nathaniel Watson, Mississippi State
LB Ty’Ron Hopper, Missouri
CB Aydan White, NC State
LB Payton Wilson, NC State
LB Cedric Gray, North Carolina
CB Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame
DE JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State
LB Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State
DE Ethan Downs, Oklahoma
LB Collin Oliver, Oklahoma State
LB Jason Henderson, Old Dominion
DE Cedric Johnson, Ole Miss
DE Brandon Dorlus, Oregon
S Kitan Oladapo, Oregon State
CB Kalen King, Penn State
DE Chop Robinson, Penn State
LB Abdul Carter, Penn State
CB M.J. Devonshire, Pitt
DE Aaron Lewis, Rutgers
S Yam Banks, South Alabama
S Jay Stanley, Southern Miss
LB David Bailey, Stanford
LB Marlowe Wax, Syracuse
CB Josh Newton, TCU
LB Layton Jordan, Temple
LB Aaron Beasley, Tennessee
LB Jaylan Ford, Texas
DT Jaylon Hutchings, Texas Tech
CB Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo
CB Reddy Steward, Troy
CB Jarius Monroe, Tulane
DT Patrick Jenkins, Tulane
DT Fish McWilliams, UAB
LB Jason Johnson, UCF
LB Laiatu Latu, UCLA
S Calen Bullock, USC
S Cole Bishop, Utah
LB Tyrice Knight, UTEP
S Rashad Wisdom, UTSA
DE Chico Bennett, Virginia
DE Bralen Trice, Washington
S Aubrey Burks, West Virginia
LB JaQues Evans, Western Kentucky
LB Maema Njongmeta, Wisconsin
LB Easton Gibbs, Wyoming

The Chuck Bednarik Award has once again partnered with Pro Football Focus (PFF) and Phil Steele Publications as selection committee partners. PFF provides detailed metrics and performance-based assessments to selection committee staff, with several senior PFF analysts are members of our selection committee. Phil Steele’s College Football Preview is generally recognized as the most complete preseason magazine.

Semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced November 13, 2023, while the three finalists for the Bednarik Award will be unveiled November 28, 2023. The winners of the 29th Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 7, 2023. The formal presentations of the Chuck Bednarik Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards in March 2024.

Questions concerning the 2023 Bednarik Award watch list can be directed to MFC Executive Director Mark Wolpert mwolpert@maxwellfootballclub.org or MFC Vice President of College Awards Rich Cirminiello rcirminiello@maxwellfootballclub.org.

ABOUT THE MAXWELL FOOTBALL CLUB – The Maxwell Football Club was founded in 1935 and is the oldest football organization of its kind in America. The Club recognizes excellence in performance at the high school, collegiate and professional levels of the game. The Maxwell Club is also deeply involved and fully vested in the community through programs to promote academic excellence, community volunteerism, and leadership. High school student-athletes around the country have an opportunity to participate in MFC Showcase events, free of charge, through the generosity of our corporate partners, Montage Mountain Resorts, the Buccini Polin Group, the ETC Foundation and the Run Around Inc. To learn more about our story visit www.maxwellfootballclub.org.

ABOUT PRO FOOTBALL FOCUS – PFF is widely recognized as the industry leader in the advanced data collection and analysis for American football. Since 2011, PFF has led football’s charge into the world of analytics. Their services are trusted by all 32 NFL teams and over 100 FBS programs. Major broadcast networks, national media outlets and player agencies all use PFF as a resource as well. PFF’s media network provides fans with apps, tools, podcasts and other content to help satisfy their thirst for deeper insights in the game.

The Chuck Bednarik Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football’s most prestigious awards. The NCFAA’s 24 awards have honored more than 900 recipients since 1935. This season, 12 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday.

Sixteen NCFAA members are unveiling preseason watch lists over a two-week period as the association spearheads a coordinated effort to promote each award’s preseason candidates. Following is the remaining 2023 preseason watch list calendar:

Mon., July 31: Maxwell Award
Tue., Aug. 1: Outland Trophy/Bronko Nagurski Trophy
Wed., Aug. 2: Lou Groza Award/Ray Guy Award
Thu., Aug. 3: Paul Hornung Award/Wuerffel Trophy
Fri., Aug. 4: Mackey Award/Rimington Trophy

Mon., Aug. 7: Biletnikoff Award
Tue., Aug. 8: Davey O’Brien Award
Wed., Aug. 9: Doak Walker Award
Thu., Aug. 10: Butkus Award/Paycom Jim Thorpe Award
Fri., Aug. 11: Walter Camp Award

Mon., Aug. 14: Bednarik Award

For more information about the NCFAA and its college football awards, visit the redesigned NCFAA.org or follow on Twitter @NCFAA.

-Via Clemson Athletic Communciations

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Packers TE Tyler Davis tears ACL during preseason win over Bengals

The Packers will lose tight end/special teamer Tyler Davis to a season-ending ACL tear, per NFL Network.

Green Bay Packers tight end Tyler Davis tore his ACL during Friday night’s preseason opener against the Cincinnati Bengals, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

Davis was injured while being tackled following a catch early in the second half. He needed to be carted back to the locker room, and coach Matt LaFleur revealed the team’s belief that the injury was “pretty significant” following the 36-19 win at Paycor Stadium.

Davis, now in his third year in Green Bay, will be expected to miss the 2023 season.

Not only does his injury hurt the Packers’ already shaky depth at tight end, but Davis leaves a massive hole on special teams, where he played 232 snaps over 14 games in 2021 and a team-high 346 snaps over 17 games in 2022. LaFleur was expecting Davis to play more snaps as a traditional tight end for the Packers offense in 2023, and Rich Bisaccia had Davis plugged in on all the important special teams groupings to open training camp and the preseason.

The Packers, who originally signed Davis in 2021, re-signed him on a one-year deal in March.

The Packers will likely need to make an addition at tight end in the coming days. As it stands now, rookies Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft and undrafted first-year player Austin Allen are the only true tight ends on the 90-man roster. Josiah Deguara and Henry Pearson are H-backs/fullbacks. Can Allen take a big step over the final three weeks of training camp and earn a job on the 53-man roster? Or will the Packers need to add a veteran capable of playing snaps on offense and special teams? When Davis goes to injured reserve, a roster spot will open up.

Packers TE Tyler Davis suffers significant injury against Bengals

Packers coach Matt LaFleur confirmed that TE Tyler Davis suffered a significant knee injury in the preseason opener against the Bengals.

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur confirmed tight end Tyler Davis suffered a “pretty significant injury” during their preseason win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Friday.

Davis caught two passes for nine yards, with his first being a five-yard touchdown late in the second quarter. Unfortunately, Davis’ second reception ended in a hard hit from rookie corner DJ Ivey, which left him slow to get up before limping off the field.

After being looked at by trainers, Davis was carted to the locker room. The Packers later announced he had sustained a knee injury.

Judging by LaFleur’s postgame comments, it doesn’t sound like Davis will be back anytime soon.

“TD, my heart hurts for him. He’s been a key contributor to our success the last couple of years,” said LaFleur. “Whether it’s on teams or carving out a role on our offense, he’s the consummate professional. Great teammate, great human.”

“We’re going to miss him.”

In two seasons with Green Bay, Davis has appeared 31 games and caught eight passes for a total of 61 yards. He has had a far greater impact on special teams, where he led the team in snaps (346) in 2022.

The Packers will miss Davis’ presence on special teams during the 2023 season. His injury also leaves LaFleur’s team thin at tight end, where rookies Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft will need to step up and play even bigger roles. Josiah Deguara and Henry Pearson are listed at fullback, leaving Austin Allen as the only true tight end backup. An addition could be coming at the position in the next few days.