Football season is afoot as the award watch lists are now being released. Over the next two weeks, 16 award watch lists will be announced. One of the most coveted awards list to make is the Walter Camp Award. As of this week seven of the 16 award watch lists have been announced. There are some award watch lists that Notre Football Player’s didn’t make it on. Players will tell you that “they don’t come to Notre Dame for individual awards, they come to Notre Dame to win National Championships.” Below are the award watch lists that have been announced. Next week the second round of of award watch lists will be released.
7/15 Bednarik Award Watch List
COLLEGE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
The College Defensive Player of the Year Award is named in honor of Chuck Bednarik, College and Pro Football Hall of Famer.
WHO VOTES?
Voters for the Maxwell College Awards are NCAA Head College Football Coaches, members of the Maxwell Football Club & sportswriters and sportscasters from across the country.
Khalid Kareem-Last season Khalid started all 12 games, was second on the team in QB hurries with 8, third in tackles for loss with 10. He also added 39 tackles, 5 pass break-ups along with forced fumble. Khalid will be a stud on the defensive line this year.
Julian Okwara-Last season Julian started in 11 games and played in all 12. He racked up 37 tackles, 11.5 for a loss, 7 sacks and 21 QB hurries (7 hurries alone in the Pitt game). Okwara needs to emerge as a leader on the defensive line. Working in tandem with Kareem the defensive line is sure to be stout again.
Manti Te’o won this award in 2012.
7/15 Maxwell Award Watch List
COLLEGE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Each year the Maxwell Football Club presents the Maxwell Award for the College Player of the Year. This award is presented in honor of Robert W. (Tiny) Maxwell, legendary college player, official and sports columnist.
WHO VOTES?
Voters for the Maxwell College Awards are NCAA Head College Football Coaches, members of the Maxwell Football Club & sportswriters and sportscasters from across the country.
Ian Book-Last year Book took off from the moment he stepped on the field as a starter. Stepping up and being the stand out leader on the team. Book wanted as much from himself as he wanted from the rest of his team. Book backed up is leadership with an amazing 70.4 passing percentage (197-280), including 19 passing touchdowns. That ranked him 6th in the country and 8th in passing accuracy. Book did not start the first three games (started against Wake Forest) and one game out for an injury. He rushed for 4 touchdowns and rushed 78 times for 250 yards. Book will surely be tapped as a Captain of the team. His eagerness to win and love of Notre Dame football will propel this team forward in 2019.
Manti Te’o won this award in 2012.
7/16 Davey O’Brien Award Watch List
The Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award® is presented annually to the nation’s best college quarterback and is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award. The Davey O’Brien Award honors candidates who exemplify Davey O’Brien’s enduring character while exhibiting teamwork, sportsmanship and leadership in both academics and athletics.
Ian Book was named to this awards watch list as well.
7/17 Doak Walker Award Watch List
Tony Jones Jr-Jones Jr played in all 12 games last season. Racking up 392 yards rushing and 3 touchdowns. Biggest play from scrimmage was a 51-yard TD reception to lead the Irish over the Trojans. Jones Jr sitting near the top of the depth chart for the Irish will add a “shock and awe” tandem with Jafar Armstrong. You can also go with “thunder and lightning.” Either way his Senior year will be big if the offensive line and Book are in sink. Jones Jr will bring it this year.
Jafar Armstrong-Missing three games last season due to injury, Armstrong will look to build on his accomplishments of his Sophomore season. Playing in nine games, starting in two of those, Armstrong had 337 yards on the season 42 yards his longest) and 7 touchdowns. Early in his Sophomore season, teammates were asking him to change his name to “Jafast.” Armstrong in tandem with Tony Jones Jr will give defensive coordinators difficulty in building a game strategy.
7/18 Biletnikoff Award Watch List
The Biletnikoff Award annually recognizes the outstanding receiver in college football. Any player, regardless of position (wide receiver, tight end, split end, inside receiver, slot back or running back) who catches a pass is eligible for the award. As such, the Biletnikoff Award recognizes the outstanding receiver, not merely the outstanding wide receiver. The award recipient is selected by the highly distinguished Biletnikoff Award National Selection Committee, a group of prominent college football journalists, commentators, and former receivers.
A total of 59 candidates were selected to the watch list. There were no Notre Dame (wide receiver, tight end, split end, inside receiver, slot back or running back) selected to the watch list. Below is the criteria to be selected.
Candidate Eligibility & Voting Criteria:
The candidate for the Biletnikoff Award defined:
- Every Biletnikoff Award candidate must be an active collegiate football receiver (any player who receives a forward pass regardless of position) at an NCAA Division 1 (FBS) institution. For instance, players at positions of tight end, wide receiver, slot back, running back, and any other position in which a player may catch a legal forward pass are eligible to be selected. Moreover, actual, on-field performance, not college or professional football potential, is the basis for Biletnikoff Award recognition.
- Every candidate, to remain a candidate, must not be currently declared ineligible to participate in Division l (FBS) football by the NCAA at the time of any vote of the Biletnikoff Award National Selection Committee.
- Every candidate, to remain a candidate, must not be currently ineligible to participate in Division l (FBS) football by decision of the candidate’s institution or team at the time of any vote of the Biletnikoff Award National Selection Committee.
- An ineligible player cannot be placed on the watch list and cannot remain on the watch list during that ineligibility; he can be added to or reinstated to the watch list based on proper conduct and on-field performance when his eligibility is restored at the discretion of the Foundation.
- Every candidate must display leadership and self-discipline; and he must have a significant, positive impact on his team’s success. Misconduct is a negative indicator of leadership, self-discipline, and positive team influence.
- Every candidate must display a commitment always to play at his best.
- A number of receivers are added to the watch list during the season based on performance. Actual, not potential, performance is the basis for inclusion on the Biletnikoff Award Watch List. A season-ending injury will cause the removal of that injured receiver from the watch list and, hence, consideration for winning the FanVote tally and the Biletnikoff Award. Nonetheless, if the receiver who suffers a season-ending injury has completed a relatively substantial body of work for that season, he may be allowed to remain in contention for the Biletnikoff Award. Once the final watch list is submitted to the national selection committee, every receiver on the watch list remains eligible to win the Biletnikoff Award even if he subsequently suffers a season-ending injury.
7/19 Rimington Award Watch List
The Rimington Award is presented to the premier centers in each of the following divisions: FCS, Division II, Division III, and NAIA. The recipients of the Rimington Award are chosen by Jason Dannelly, founder of the Victory Sports Network.
Dannelly launched the Victory Sports Network, the home for all things NAIA, in 2002. It quickly became the leading voice for NAIA college sports through its web sites, print magazines, and syndicated radio broadcasts. Over the past ten years Dannelly has established relationships with the voices of small college athletics to create a network of information and resources for FCS, DII, DII, DIII and NAIA football.
VSN is the world’s largest news and social media site for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Over the past several years, Dannelly has become the “guru” of the NAIA and small college sports scene and has called upon for his expertise by a variety of media outlets. For the past two athletic seasons Dannelly has also been the color analyst and producer of the “NAIA Football Game of the Week.” He also is one of the hosts for the daily broadcasts of “The NAIA Minute” as well as “VSN Saturday.”
Dannelly annually selects NAIA Football All-American teams and attends the AFCA Annual Convention. He is also a member of the Football Writers Association.
Jarrett Patterson-Patterson made three appearances in the 2018 season as a Freshman. His Offensive Line battery mates will have to keep opponents away from Ian Book and standing upright so that the Irish receivers and Running Backs can keep the opponents offense off the field.
Sam Mustipher was a finalist in 2018.
7/19 Mackey Award Watch List
The John Mackey Award is given annually to the most outstanding collegiate tight end.
Cole Kmet-Kmet continues the adventure of a two sport athlete. As athletic as he is, Kmet should remind you of a former ND Wide Receiver, Jeff Samardzija. Probably close to the top of the depth chart, Cole will look to bring his leadership from the diamond to the football field.
2019 ALLSTATE AFCA GOOD WORKS TEAM®
Allstate and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) today announced the list of nominees for the 2019 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®, an annual award given to college football players for the impact they make off the field. A total of 137 student-athletes with inspiring stories of community service were nominated by their respective sports information directors.
Established in 1992, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® continues to be one of the most coveted community service awards in college football. From the 137 nominees, the final roster of 23 award recipients will be announced in September, bringing together 11 players from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision;11 players from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Divisions II, III and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA); and one honorary head coach. To be considered for a spot on the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®, each player must be actively involved with a charitable organization or service group while maintaining a strong academic standing.
Jalen Elliott-Elliott had a monster junior season. He started in all 12 games, 63 tackles and 6 pass break-ups. His 4 interceptions made him one out of 35 players that had 4 our more picks.
Nic Weishar was named Captain of the ALLSTATE AFCA GOOD WORKS TEAM® in 2018
Wrap-Up
It was a pretty good week for the Irish. I wide spectrum of players selected to watch for in the 2019 football campaign. The whole team will give it all up to get a chance to get back to the College Football Playoff. We all will be watching to see the what happens in the fall.
Cheers and Go Irish! ☘🏈⚡