Watching the Watch Lists: Bednarik and Maxwell Awards

Yes, it's that time of year, again. It's Watch List season! This is when we start naming players who may compete for the big end-of-the-season awards. These aren't the only players who will be considered for awards. If someone not on a watch list has a strong season, they can easily be added to the slate.

We'll be getting the Watch List releases over the next few days and we'll do similar to last summer where we profile the players up for each award. The full schedule of releases is as follows:

July 6 - Paul Hornung Award
July 7 - Bednarik Award and Maxwell Award
July 8 - John Mackey Award and Rimington Trophy
July 9 - Lo Groza Award and Ray Guy Award
July 10 - Bronko Nagurski and Outland Trophy
July 13 - Jim Thorpe Award
July 14 - Butkus Award and Rotary Lombardi Award
July 15 - Biletnikoff Award and Wuerffel Trophy
July 16 - Davey O'Brien Award and Doak Walker Award
July 17 - Walter Camp Award and William V. Campbell Trophy

Auburn On The Lists

No Tigers made the Paul Hornung Award, given to players who play two ways or are particularly special in the return game. However, there are Tigers on the two lists released today.

Chuck Bednarik Award

This is the award for the defensive player of the year. It is given in conjunction with the Maxwell Award by the Maxwell Football Club. Senior linebacker Cassanova McKinzy was named to the Bednarik Watch List.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Cassanova McKinzy named to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bednarikaward?src=hash">#Bednarikaward</a> Preseason Watch List for Def. Player of the Year. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FastPhysical?src=hash">#FastPhysical</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WarEagle?src=hash">#WarEagle</a> <a href="http://t.co/nq3htiPDMp">pic.twitter.com/nq3htiPDMp</a></p>&mdash; Auburn Football (@FootballAU) <a href="https://twitter.com/FootballAU/status/618439661833330688">July 7, 2015</a></blockquote>

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Maxwell Award

This award is given to the "College Player of the Year" regardless of position. Senior Wide Receiver D'haquille Williams and Junior Quarterback Jeremy Johnson are both on the Maxwell Award Watch List.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Duke Williams named to the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheMaxwellAward?src=hash">#TheMaxwellAward</a> Preseason Watch List for top player. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FastPhysical?src=hash">#FastPhysical</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WarEagle?src=hash">#WarEagle</a> <a href="http://t.co/p4G7dnXC6A">pic.twitter.com/p4G7dnXC6A</a></p>&mdash; Auburn Football (@FootballAU) <a href="https://twitter.com/FootballAU/status/618436809509498880">July 7, 2015</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jeremy Johnson named to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheMaxwellAward?src=hash">#TheMaxwellAward</a> Preseason Watch List (Best Player). <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FastPhysical?src=hash">#FastPhysical</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WarEagle?src=hash">#WarEagle</a> <a href="http://t.co/oSCqThiQJN">pic.twitter.com/oSCqThiQJN</a></p>&mdash; Auburn Football (@FootballAU) <a href="https://twitter.com/FootballAU/status/618438016600801280">July 7, 2015</a></blockquote>

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Predicting the Lists

I don't expect Auburn to have anyone named to the Mackey Award (TE, of which we have none with game experience) or Rimington Trophy (Best Center, Reese Dismukes won it last season) lists. It's possibly Austin Golson could be put on the watch list for the Rimington, but I doubt it.

The kicker awards (Groza and Ray Guy) are also doubtful. Daniel Carlson is possible to be named to the Groza list, but we're in desperate need of a punter not named Carlson, so I don't think we'll see a Tiger on that one.

The Nagurski and Outland Trophy lists could be interesting. It's possible we'll see McKinzy make the Nagurski list along with the Bednarik. I could see Alex Kozan on the Outland list and possibly Montravious Adams, as well. Had Avery Young stayed on the interior, I think he would be a lock for that list, but bumping him out to Right Tackle makes that a big different.

I expect we'll see Cassanova McKinzy on the Butkus Award list for Linebackers and possibly the Lombardi as well. I think we'll see a few Tigers make the Lombardi award list, which is for linemen on both sides of the ball and linebackers, as well. Avery Young, Alex Kozan, Montravious Adams, and Carl Lawson are all possibilities for the Lombardi. I don't know how they pare those lists down, but if Avery Young isn't on a list for best lineman somewhere, then it's a crying shame.

Duke Williams will make the Biletnikoff Award watch list and possibly be the early favorite to win it. The Wuerffel Trophy is for community service, so I'm not sure who from Auburn could make that list.

Jeremy Johnson will be on the Davey O'Brien Award watch list. The O'Brien Award is given to the top quarterback in the nation. The Doak Walker could get interesting. I'm confident Auburn will have a player in the final running for that award by the end of the season, but I don't know if any of them will make the watch list, since they haven't proven anything on the field, yet.

The final awards watch lists are the Walter Camp and William V Campbell. I have no idea who will make the Campebll Award list since it's for scholar-athletes. I suspect you could pick a handful of Tigers for the Walter Camp Award, but I'll sat JJ and Duke are definitely on it.