The ACC has placed nine linemen on the Outland Trophy watch list. The award is determined by the members of the Football Writers Association of America membership and its All-American committee. It is for the best interior lineman in the country and goes to either offensive or defensive linemen. Defensive ends/edge rushers are ineligible for the ward.
This will be the 79th year for the award, making it the third oldest college football player award in the country. There are a total of 75 people on the watch list. Players can be added throughout the year as their performance warrants.
The Watchlist
The ACC players tabbed are:
Ozzy Trapilo, Boston College, Redshirt Senior; offensive tackle
Blake Miller, Clemson, Junior; offensive tackle
Joshua Farmer, Florida State, Redshirt Junior; defensive tackle
Darius Washington, Florida State, Redshirt Senior; offensive tackle
Weston Franklin, Georgia Tech, Senior; center
Michael Gonzalez, Louisville, Senior; offensive tackle
Jalen Rivers, Miami, Redshirt Junior; offensive tackle
Zeke Correll, NC State, Graduate Student; center
Justin Osborne, SMU, Graduate Student; center
The Breakdown
Notre Dame has two linemen on the watch list. But since it is only a partial member of the ACC and remains an independent for football, those players are not counted in the ACC tally. Howard Cross III of Notre Dame, a two-time FWAA All-American at defensive tackle, is the only returning All-American on the watch list.
The SEC leads the numbers with 18 players on the pre-season list. Georgia has four players on the list, more than any other school in the country. There are 13 from the Big Ten, nine from the ACC and Big 12, seven from the Mountain West, five from the American, four from Conference USA, the Mid-American and Sun Belt have three each, and the Pac-12 and Independents have two each.
Last year’s winner was defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat from Texas.
Dates to Know
The list will be paired down to the semifinalists on November 20th. The three finalists will be announced on November 26th.
The Outland Trophy winner is chosen from those finalists who will be part of the annual FWAA All-America Team. The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the entire membership, selects a 26-man first team and eventually the three Outland finalists. Committee members, then by individual ballot, select the winner.
The winner will be announced at the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on December 12th.
The rest of the awards pre-season watch list schedule for this can be found here.
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