Watch List Profile: Carl Lawson

Who: Carl Lawson
Size: 6-2 / 257
Year: Sophomore
Position: DL
Watch Lists: Nagurski Trophy; Butkus Award

Carl Lawson is back. And, with him come the presesaon accolades. Lawson makes the watch list of the Nagurski Trophy, given to the best defensive player in college football. He's one of 20 SEC players, and three Auburn players on the list, including Cassanova McKinzy and Jonathan Jones.

Lawson also made the watch list for the Butkus Award, along with teammates Kris Frost and McKinzy. This may seem strange at first, given the Butkus is an award given to linebackers. However, Lawson will serve as Will Muschamp's hybrid "Buck." Sometimes he'll be down as a traditional DE, and others he'll be standing up as a 3-4 linebacker.

Previous Performance

In his freshman season, Lawson recorded 20 tackles and 7.5 TFL, including a crucial fourth down stop in the 2013 Iron Bowl. There was a lot of discussion of who was missed most from the 2013 team, and Jay Prosch and Tre Mason were definitely top contenders. But, Carl Lawson, it turns out, was irreplaceable.

Heading into Pre-Season

Lawson has said he feels faster and stronger than ever before. He's not letting his knee injury affect him in any way, and has said he doesn't even think about it when he's on the field. If Lawson returns to the field in 2013 form, opposing offenses should be downright afraid