Alabama Players On Watch Lists For Postseason Awards

The Lombardi Award  is presented annually by the Rotary Club in Houston, TX, to the nation's best college football lineman (offense or defense). This year's list includes two Alabama players: G Arie Kouandjio and DE/DT A'Shawn Robinson. In my opinion, A'Shawn has the best chance because he will be one of the most feared players in the nation at his position and should be a guy that gets 10 or 15 sacks and over 20 tackles for loss. I think he's the best in the SEC.

A'Shawn Robinson

Last year's winner: Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh.

Past Alabama Winners: Cornelius Bennett, 1986.

Here are the rest of the SEC players on the list:

A.J. Cann, South Carolina , G
La'el Collins, LSU , OT
Reese Dismukes, Auburn, C 
Trey Flowers, Arkansas , DE
Leonard Floyd, Georgia, LB 
A.J. Johnson, Tennessee, LB
Chris Jones, Mississippi State, DT
Benardrick McKinney, Mississippi State, LB 
Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss, DT 
Cedric Ogbuehi, Texas A&M, OT 
Ramik Wilson, Georgia, LB


The Butkus Award is named after the greatest linebacker of all time, Dick Butkus, and is awarded to the best linebacker in the nation. LB is my favorite position on the field so I am always happy when Bama is represented here. This year's list includes two Bama players to watch out for:  Trey DePriest and Reggie Ragland. I can't help but think that Reuben Foster could make some noise, but that'll probably be in 2015. DePriest is expected to be the leader of Bama's front seven on defense, so he could have a huge year.

Reggie Ragland

Last year's winner: CJ Mosley, Alabama. 

Past Alabama Winners: Derrick Thomas, 1988; Rolando McClain, 2009; CJ Mosley, 2013

Here are the rest of the SEC players on the list:

Leonard Floyd, Georgia
Kris Frost, Auburn
Jordan Jenkins, Georgia
A.J. Johnson, Tennessee
Benardrick McKinney, Mississippi State
Braylon Mitchell, Arkansas
Ramik Wilson, Georgia


The Nagurski Award is given to the top defensive player in college football. The award is named after Bronko Nagurski, who played for Minnesota in college and for the Chicago Bears in the NFL. Alabama has never won this award, but this year we have three guys on the list: S Landon Collins, LB Trey DePriest, and DL A'Shawn Robinson. Again, A'Shawn is a beast. Expect big things from this man.

Trey DePriest

Last year's winner: Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh.

Here are the rest of the SEC players on the list:

Alvin "Bud" Dupree, Kentucky, DE
Trey Flowers, Arkansas, DE
Leonard Floyd, Georgia, LB
Dante Fowler Jr., Florida, DE/LB
Markus Golden, Missouri, DE
Vernon Hargreaves III, Florida, S
Jordan Jenkins, Georgia, LB
A.J. Johnson, Tennessee, LB
Benardrick McKinney, Mississippi State, LB
Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss, DT
Cody Prewitt, Ole Miss, S
Ramik Wilson, Georgia, LB
Gabe Wright, Auburn, DT


The Outland Trophy is named after John Outland, of the University of Kansas, who was named All American at two different positions in the very early days off football: offensive tackle and halfback. Can you imagine that these days? The award goes to the best interior lineman in college football(offensive or defensive). Alabama has three on this list: C Ryan Kelly, G Arie Kouandjio, and DL A'shawn Robinson. I don't have to tell you which one of these guys I am highest on. However, 8 out of the past 11 years the award has gone to an offensive guy and Kelly has the chance to be a Barrett Jones type of leader and player this year and all of our past winners were O-Lineman.

Arie Kouandjio

 





Last year's winner: Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh.

Past Alabama Winners: Chris Samuels, 1999; Andre Smith, 2008; Barrett Jones, 2011

Here are the rest of the SEC players on the list:

Vadal Alexander, LSU, G
David Andrews, Georgia, C
Evan Boehm, Missouri, C
A.J. Cann, South Carolina, G
La'el Collins, LSU, OT
Reese Dismukes, Auburn, C
D.J. Humphries, Florida, OT
Germain Ifedi, Texas A&M, OT
Alex Kozan, Auburn, G
Mike Matthews, Texas A&M, C
Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss, DT
Cedric Ogbuehi, Texas A&M, OT
Corey Robinson, South Carolina, OT
Brandon Shell, South Carolina, OT
Laremy Tunsil, Ole Miss, OT
Gabe Wright, Auburn, DT


The Mackey Award is given to the best tight end in college football who best exemplifies the play, sportsmanship, academics, and community values of NFL Hall of Fame TE John Mackey. I think most people know who that is probably gonna be. OJ Howard was an under-utilized man among boys in his true freshman campaign last season. Lane Kiffin knows what he has in this guy and whenever he's not trying to get the ball to Amari Cooper, it will probably be going to OJ Howard. OJ can play across the middle like a traditional tight end, and can block like a lineman, but this guy could line up at wide receiver and be one of the elite guys in the country there as well. Barring injury or the Apocalypse, I'm gonna just go ahead and predict that OJ Howard will be the first Alabama TE to win this award. 

OJ Howard

Last year's winner: Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Washington.

Here are the rest of the SEC players on the list:

Rory Anderson, South Carolina
Evan Engram, Ole Miss
Hunter Henry, Arkansas
Malcolm Johnson, Mississippi State
Jay Rome, Georgia
C.J. Uzomah, Auburn

The Rimington Trophy goes to the best center in College Football, and is named for Dave Rimington who played center at Nebraska from 1979-1982. Ryan Kelly represents Bama and should do well in 2014.

Ryan Kelly

Last year's winner: Bryan Stork, Florida State.

Past Alabama winners: Barrett Jones, 2012.

Here are the rest of the SEC players on the list:

David Andrews, Georgia
Evan Boehm, Missouri
Dillon Day, Mississippi State
Reese Dismukes, Auburn
Max Garcia, Florida
Mike Matthews, Texas A&M
Elliott Porter, LSU
Jon Toth, Kentucky
Joe Townsend, Vanderbilt
Cody Waldrop, South Carolina


The Bednarik Award is presented by the Maxwell Football Club to the best defensive player in college football and is named after Chuck Bednarik, who was one of the most devastating tacklers in the country for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1949-1962.. Alabama is well represented here with three guys: Landon Collins, Trey DePriest, and A'Shawn Robinson. 

A'Shawn

Last year's winner: Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh.

Here are the rest of the SEC players on the list:

Alvin "Bud" Dupree, Kentucky, DE
Trey Flowers, Arkansas, DE
Leonard Floyd, Georgia, LB
Dante Fowler Jr., Florida, DE/LB
Markus Golden, Missouri, DE
Vernon Hargreaves III, Florida, CB
Jordan Jenkins, Georgia, LB
A.J. Johnson, Tennessee, LB
Benardrick McKinney, Mississippi State, LB
Cody Prewitt, Ole Miss, S
Robenson Therezie, Auburn, S
Ramik Wilson, Georgia, LB


The Maxwell Award is named after Robert "Tiny" Maxwell,  a Swarthmore College player and coach, and is given annually to the best player in college football. Alabama had never had a player win this award until last year, when AJ McCarron took it home. He should've taken home the Heisman too, but that's another argument for another day. Four Alabama players are on the preseason list this year: QB Jacob Coker, WR Amari Cooper, RB TJ Yeldon, and RB Derrick Henry. I have no idea why Coker is on here, since he's yet to take a single snap as a starter or in an Alabama uniform at all, but I guess it's just a testament to the respect that everyone has for Nick Saban that most people expect the Alabama QB to be a major player for this type of attention. I think Derrick Henry is the best in the country, but his ultimate candidacy for this award will depend upon how many carries he gets, splitting time with TJ Yeldon and a couple of other guys. 

TJ Yeldon

Last year's winner: AJ McCarron, Alabama.

Past Alabama Winners: AJ McCarron, 2013

Here are the rest of the SEC players on the list:

Sammie Coates, Auburn, WR
Alex Collins, Arkansas, RB
Mike Davis, South Carolina, RB
Jeff Driskel, Florida, QB
Todd Gurley, Georgia, RB
Nick Marshall, Auburn, QB
Dak Prescott, Mississippi State, QB
Bo Wallace, Ole Miss, QB
Jonathan Williams, Arkansas, RB


The Thorpe Award is named after Jim Thorpe, and goes to the nation's top defensive back. Landon Collins has a chance to be the best safety in college football and will have a very good shot at winning this award.

Landon Collins

Last year's winner: Darqueze Dennard, Michigan State.

Past Alabama Winners: Antonio Langham, 1993.

Here are the rest of the SEC players on the list:

Vernon Hargreaves, Florida, CB
Cody Prewitt, Ole Miss, S
Tre'Davious White, LSU, CB


The Biletnikoff Award is given to the nation's most outstanding receiver, and is name after Fred Biletnikoff from Florida State. Amari Cooper headlines any list of great receivers in college football right now and should have his best season yet, with Lane Kiffin on the sidelines.

Amari Cooper

Last year's winner: Brandin Cooks, Oregon State.

Here are the rest of the SEC players on the list:

Sammie Coates, Auburn
Jameon Lewis, Mississippi State
Laquon Treadwell, Ole Miss


The Doak Walker Award goes to the best running back in college football every year, and Bama has a couple guys on this list. TJ Yeldon, and Derrick Henry. The SEC is well represented here, no thanks to Auburn, with 11 total backs. Roughly 1 in 5 RBs on the complete list are from the SEC, with none being from Auburn.

Derrick Henry

Last year's winner: Andre Williams, Boston College.

Past Alabama winners: Trent Richardson, 2011.

Here are the rest of the SEC players on the list:

Tra Carson, Texas A&M
Alex Collins, Arkansas
Mike Davis, South Carolina
Todd Gurley, Georgia
Terrence McGee, LSU
Josh Robinson, Mississippi State
Kelvin Taylor, Florida
Jonathan Williams, Arkansas
Trey Williams, Texas A&M


The Walter Camp Award is awarded to the Player Of The Year in college football. Alabama places 3 on this list: Landon Collins, Amari Cooper, and TJ Yeldon. I think Henry could be on the list later on in the season, but that will depend on how many carries he takes from Yeldon of course.

Coop

Last year's winner: Jameis Winston, Florida State.

Here are the rest of the SEC players on the list:

Mike Davis, South Carolina, RB
Todd Gurley, Georgia, RB
Vernon Hargreaves III, Florida, CB
Nick Marshall, Auburn, QB
Cody Prewitt, Ole Miss, S
Ramik Wilson, Georgia, LB


These are just preseason lists based on past performance and hype, so expect several of these players to fall off as the season goes on and many more players to be added by December. But Alabama is well represented with 10 total players on the preseason watch lists, and with a few of the young guys that should step up, added to the fact that we will be in the playoff, it's a safe bet that at least one of these awards will be heading to Tuscaloosa.