September 6, 2022

FWAA/NFF Super 16 Poll: Week 1

by FWAA Editor • FWAA-NFF Super 16 Poll • Tags: Football Writers Association of America, FWAA

Week 1: Games Played Through September 5, 2022

	TEAM	POINTS	FIRST-PLACE VOTES	LAST WEEK’S RANK
1.	Alabama (1-0)	809	32	1
2.	Georgia (1-0)	786	17	3
3.	Ohio State (1-0)	740	3	2
4.	Michigan (1-0)	587		5
5.	Clemson (1-0)	580		4
6.	Oklahoma (1-0)	477		9
7.	Texas A&M (1-0)	459		8
8.	Baylor (1-0)	402		10
9.	Notre Dame (0-1)	391		6
10.	USC (1-0)	285		13
11.	Oklahoma State (1-0)	243		11
12.	Florida (1-0)	213		N/A
13.	Arkansas (1-0)	177		N/A
14.	Michigan State (1-0)	164		15
15.	Miami (FL) (1-0)	148		16
16.	Utah (0-1)	130		7

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES:Pittsburgh (89), Wisconsin (84), NC State (74), BYU (45), Florida State (42), Tennessee (32), Ole Miss (26), Texas (25), Penn State (15), Kentucky (13), Mississippi State (9), Oregon (7), Houston (5), Wake Forest (5), UCF (4), Kansas State (3), Minnesota (2), TCU (1).

To see how individual voters cast their ballots, CLICK HERE.

NOTES:
Alabama held the No. 1 spot in Week 1 of the rankings, having claimed the position in the Preseason Poll. The Crimson Tide received 32-of-52 first-place votes. Georgia picked up 17 first-place votes, advancing from No. 3 to No. 2 after defeating Oregon, 49-3, in Atlanta. Notre Dame dropped three spots to No. 9 after losing on the road to Ohio State. Utah fell nine spots to the No. 16 ranking after losing to Florida. Oklahoma moved up three spots to No. 6.

Oregon dropped out of the poll completely after losing to Georgia, marking the first time the Ducks failed to appear in the poll since Sept. 3, 2019. NC State also dropped out of the poll despite a 21-20 victory on the road against East Carolina.

No. 10 USC landed its highest ranking since the Trojans took the No. 8 spot on Dec. 3, 2017. Miami’s No. 15 ranking marked the Hurricanes’ highest position since No. 8 on Aug. 20, 2018.

Florida and Arkansas joined the poll for the first time this season, claiming Nos. 12 and 13, respectively.

The SEC leads all conferences with five teams, followed by the Big Ten and Big 12, which had three each. The ACC and Pac-12 each had two and Independents with one.

SCHEDULE:
No. 1 Alabama at Texas
Samford at No. 2 Georgia
Arkansas State at No. 3 Ohio State
Hawaii at No. 4 Michigan
Furman at No. 5 Clemson
Kent State at No. 6 Oklahoma
Appalachian State at No. 7 Texas A&M
No. 8 Baylor at BYU
Marshall at No. 9 Notre Dame
No. 10 USC at Stanford
Arizona State at No. 11 Oklahoma State
Kentucky at No. 12 Florida
South Carolina at No. 13 Arkansas
Akron at No. 14 Michigan State
Southern Mississippi at No. 15 Miami (Fla.)
Southern Utah at No. 16 Utah

ABOUT THE FWAA-NFF SUPER 16 POLL: The FWAA-NFF Super 16 Poll was established at the conclusion of the 2013 season by long-time partners, the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and the National Football Foundation (NFF). Voters rank the top 16 teams in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, and the results will be released every Sunday of the 2022 season; the individual votes of all members will also be made public. The first regular season poll will be released on Tuesday, Sept. 6 (to account for Labor Day games), and the final poll will be released Sunday, Dec. 4. The pollsters consist of FWAA writers and College Football Hall of Famers who were selected to create a balanced-geographical perspective. The poll utilizes a computer program designed by Sports Systems, a TicketManager company, to compile the rankings.

ABOUT THE FWAA: Founded in 1941, the Football Writers Association of America consists of journalists, broadcasters, publicists, photographers and key executives in all areas of college football. The FWAA works to govern media access and gameday operations while presenting awards and honors, including an annual All-America team. For more information about the FWAA and its programs and initiatives, contact Executive Director Steve Richardson at 214-870-6516 or tiger@fwaa.com.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION & COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME: Founded in 1947 with early leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl “Red” Blaik and immortal journalist Grantland Rice, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame is a non-profit educational organization that runs programs designed to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship and athletic achievement in young people. Learn more at www.footballfoundation.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @NFFNetwork.

August 16, 2022

Alabama tops 2022 FWAA/NFF Super 16 Pre-Season Poll

by FWAA Editor • FWAA-NFF Super 16 Poll, News • Tags: Football Writers Association of America, FWAA, Super 16 Poll

PRE-SEASON POLL, AUGUST 16, 2022

RANK	TEAM	POINTS	FIRST-PLACE VOTES	LAST WEEK’S RANK
1.	Alabama	822	42	N/A
2.	Ohio State	766	6	N/A
3.	Georgia	728	4	N/A
4.	Clemson	622		N/A
5.	Michigan	530		N/A
6.	Notre Dame	513		N/A
7.	Utah	482		N/A
8.	Texas A&M	457		N/A
9.	Oklahoma	408		N/A
10.	Baylor	319		N/A
11.	Oklahoma State	228		N/A
12.	Oregon	219		N/A
13.	USC		204	N/A
14.	NC State	202		N/A
15.	Michigan State	127		N/A
16.	Miami (FL)	109		N/A

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: Pittsburgh (55), Arkansas (48), Ole Miss (36), Wisconsin (34), BYU (31), Texas (26), Cincinnati (20), Penn State (17), Florida (14), Houston (12), LSU (9), Kentucky (7), Tennessee (4), Wake Forest (4), South Carolina (4), UCF (3), Mississippi State (3), Nebraska (2), Kansas State (2), Air Force (2), West Virginia (1), Iowa (1), North Carolina (1).

To see how individual voters cast their ballots, CLICK HERE.

NOTES:
National runner-up and defending SEC Champion Alabama dominated the preseason poll with 42 of 52 first place votes. This is Alabama’s 59th appearance as the No. 1 team in this poll since 2014. The Crimson Tide leads all schools for appearances at No. 1 and is the only team to appear in each of the 105 weekly rankings since 2014.

Ohio State was second in the poll voting with six first place votes and 56 points behind Alabama with defending national champion Georgia at No. 3 with four first place votes, respectively.

No. 4 Clemson is in the poll for the first time since September 19, 2021, followed by Michigan, Notre Dame, Utah, Texas A&M, Oklahoma and Baylor. Seven of the top 10 teams appeared in New Year’s Six bowl games last season. NC State is No. 14 and in the poll for the first time since October 15, 2018.

In the 2022 preseason poll, the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC had three teams each, Independents-one. All Power-Five conferences had equal representation for the first time in the history of the poll which started in 2014.

The eventual national champion has been ranked in the top six of the preseason poll six times since 2015. Alabama in 2017 is the only national champion to start the season ranked No. 1 in the preseason poll.

SCHEDULE:

ZERO WEEK
No Super 16 Teams in Action

WEEK 1 (Sept. 1-5)

Thursday, Sept. 1
Central Michigan at No. 11 Oklahoma State

Friday, Sept. 2
Western Michigan at No. 15 Michigan State

Saturday, Sept. 3
Utah State at No. 1 Alabama
No. 6 Notre Dame at No. 2 Ohio State
No. 12 Oregon at No. 3 Georgia (Atlanta)
Colorado State at No. 5 Michigan
No. 7 Utah at Florida
Sam Houston at No. 8 Texas A&M
UTEP at No. 9 Oklahoma
Albany at No. 10 Baylor
Rice at No. 13 USC
No. 14 NC State at East Carolina
Bethune-Cookman at No. 16 Miami (Fla.)

Monday, Sept. 5
No. 4 Clemson at Georgia Tech

ABOUT THE FWAA-NFF SUPER 16 POLL: The FWAA-NFF Super 16 Poll was established at the conclusion of the 2013 season by long-time partners, the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and the National Football Foundation (NFF). Voters rank the top 16 teams in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, and the results will be released every Sunday of the 2022 season; the individual votes of all members will also be made public. The first regular season poll will be released on Tuesday, Sept. 6 (to account for Labor Day games), and the final poll will be released Sunday, Dec. 4. The pollsters consist of FWAA writers and College Football Hall of Famers who were selected to create a balanced-geographical perspective. The poll utilizes a computer program designed by Sports Systems to compile the rankings.

ABOUT THE FWAA: Founded in 1941, the Football Writers Association of America consists of journalists, broadcasters, publicists, photographers and key executives in all areas of college football. The FWAA works to govern media access and gameday operations while presenting awards and honors, including an annual All-America team. For more information about the FWAA and its programs and initiatives, contact Executive Director Steve Richardson at 214-870-6516 or tiger@fwaa.com..

ABOUT THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION & COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME: Founded in 1947 with early leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl “Red” Blaik and immortal journalist Grantland Rice, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame is a non-profit educational organization that runs programs designed to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship and athletic achievement in young people. Learn more at www.footballfoundation.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @NFFNetwork.

July 26, 2022

2022 Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list unveiled

by FWAA Editor • Bronko Nagurski Trophy • Tags: Football Writers Association of America, FWAA

DALLAS – The Football Writers Association of America released its 2022 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List today, selecting 85 defensive standouts from 61 schools in all 10 Division I FBS conferences plus independents. The watch list roster includes five returning players from last season’s FWAA All-America team including 2021 winner Will Anderson Jr. of Alabama, five of the top 13 tacklers from last season, the top two sack leaders and six of the top 13, and two players in the secondary who each had five interceptions last year.

The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce finalists for the 2022 trophy on Nov. 16 and the winner will be unveiled Dec. 5 at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet in Charlotte, N.C.

Anderson, the Alabama linebacker who earned consensus All-America status as well as the 2021 Bronko Nagurski Trophy, headlines a trio of returning All-Americans coming off First Team honors. Anderson did it all last year for the College Football Playoff runner-up Crimson Tide, leading the nation in sacks with 17.5 to go with 33.5 tackles for loss and 101 total tackles – 57 solos – in his 15-game season. Will McDonald IV, a senior Iowa State defensive end, also returns to the list. McDonald posted 11.5 sacks to tie for seventh nationally last season after tying for the national sack lead in 2020 (10.5) and was the Co-Defensive Lineman of the Year in the Big 12 Conference. Steven Jones Jr., a senior safety at App State, is the country’s interception leader after snagging five last season and is one of a record seven players representing the Sun Belt Conference.

From the FWAA’s 2021 Second-Team All-America crew are Iowa teammates Jack Campbell and Riley Moss. Campbell is a senior linebacker who led the nation in tackles with 143 in 14 games and Moss tied for 14th nationally with four interceptions, returning two for touchdowns. The Hawkeyes are one of four Big Ten schools and one of 20 overall that had at least a pair of players on the list. Alabama tops the team field with four, with Anderson alongside fellow linebacker Henry To’oTo’o, junior cornerback Eli Ricks and senior safety Jordan Battle. To’oTo’o had 127 tackles last season, tied for 27th nationally. The Crimson Tide have had Bronko Nagurski Trophy finalists in nine of the last 11 seasons.

Defending national champion Georgia placed three on the list as the Southeastern Conference led all conferences with 14 selections. The Bulldogs have a player from each front of their defense in junior tackle Jalen Carter, senior linebacker Nolan Smith and sophomore cornerback Kelee Ringo. Georgia’s trio ties Clemson for the second-most by any team with the Tigers posting standout linemen Bryan Bresee and Myles Murphy on the list along with junior linebacker Trenton Simpson.

Coming off its standout defensive season that propelled it into the College Football Playoff, Cincinnati also boasts a pair of linebacking brothers on the list in Ivan Pace and Deshawn Pace. Ivan Pace is a senior transfer from Miami (Ohio) and was a first-team All-MAC selection after his 125 tackles listed 10th in the nation. He once tied an NCAA record with six sacks against Akron in 2019, and now gets to team with younger brother Deshawn, a junior who was third on the Bearcats last year with 94 tackles, nine of them for losses, and had a team-high four interceptions.

Two more outstanding sack leaders made the list. Army junior linebacker Andre Carter was second to Anderson with 15.5 sacks and tied for sixth nationally with 18.5 tackles for loss. Coastal Carolina’s sophomore defensive end Josaiah Stewart had 12.5 sacks. Among other tackles leaders is San Jose State graduate linebacker Kyle Harmon, one of two Spartans on the list after posting 135 tackles last year, fifth in the country. Another of the top returning interceptions leaders is Georgia State junior safety Antavious Lane, who tied App State’s Jones with five interceptions last year as the country’s returning pick leader.

In addition to the above mentions, Arkansas, Baylor, Coastal Carolina, North Carolina State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Penn State, San Diego State, Troy, Utah, West Virginia and Wisconsin all had two players make the watch list. The Atlantic Coast, Big Ten and Big 12 Conferences each had 10 players on the team with the Pac-12 listing eight. The American Athletic, Mountain West and Sun Belt all had seven members, with Conference USA, the Mid-American and the independents each posting four.

The are 25 linebackers on the watch list, 18 safeties, 17 defensive ends, 13 cornerbacks and 12 tackles.

Players may be added or removed from the watch list during the course of the season. As in previous years, the FWAA will announce a National Defensive Player of the Week each Tuesday this season. If not already on the watch list, each week’s honored player will be added at that time.

2022 BRONKO NAGURSKI TROPHY PRESEASON WATCH LIST

DE Praise Amaewhule, UTEP	DT Siaki Ika, Baylor	CB Clark Phillips, Utah
LB Darren Anders, Bowling Green	S Tanner Ingle, N.C. State	LB Bumper Pool, Arkansas
LB Will Anderson Jr., Alabama	S Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M	CB Joey Porter, Penn State
DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas State	S Quindell Johnson, Memphis	CB Eli Ricks, Alabama
S Jordan Battle, Alabama	LB Mikel Jones, Syracuse	CB Kelee Ringo, Georgia
DT Keeanu Benton, Wisconsin	CB Steven Jones Jr., App State	S Jammie Robinson, Florida State
DT Bryan Bresee, Clemson	S Brandon Joseph, Notre Dame	LB Vince Sanford, Air Force
S CJ Brown, NIU	DT Calijah Kancey, Pitt	LB Noah Sewell, Oregon
LB Jack Campbell, Iowa	CB Kyu Blu Kelly, Stanford	LB Trenton Simpson, Clemson
LB Andre Carter, Army	S Antavioius Lane, Georgia State	S JL Skinner, Boise State
DT Jalen Carter, Georgia	CB Darrell Luter Jr., South Alabama	CB Cam Smith, South Carolina
S Grayson Cash, UAB	LB Carlton Martial, Troy	LB Nolan Smith, Georgia
S Jalen Catalon, Arkansas	DE Brock Martin, Oklahoma State	DE Javon Solomon, Troy
DT Elijah Chatman, SMU	DE Ochaun Mathis, Nebraska	LB Omar Speights, Oregon State
LB KD Davis, North Texas	LB Caden McDonald, San Diego State	DE Josiah Stewart, Coastal Carolina
DE Brandon Dorlus, Oregon	DE Will McDonald IV, Iowa State	DT Dante Stills, West Virginia
LB Dillon Doyle, Baylor	S Patrick McMorris, San Diego State	DE Ron Stone Jr., Washington State
DE Viliami Fehoko, San Jose State	CB Riley Moss, Iowa	CB D’Jordan Strong, Coastal Carolina
CB Emmanuel Forbes, Mississippi State	DE Myles Murphy, Clemson	DT Junior Tafuna, Utah
DE Isaiah Foskey, Notre Dame	DT Myles Murphy, North Carolina	DT Leonard Taylor, Miami
LB Antonio Grier, USF	DT PJ Mustipher, Penn State	LB Drake Thomas, N.C. State
DE Derick, Hall, Auburn	DE B.J. Ojulari, LSU	LB Henry To’oto’o, Alabama
LB Kyle Harmon, San Jose State	DE Collin Oliver, Oklahoma State	DT Tuli Tuipulotu, USC
DE Zach Harrison, Ohio State	LB DeMarvion Overshown, Texas	LB Payton Wilgar, BYU
S Xavier Henderson, Michigan State	S Gervarrius Owens, Houston	S Evan Williams, Fresno State
LB Nick Herbig, Wisconsin	LB Deshawn Pace, Cincinnati	S Divaad Wilson, UCF
S Ronnie Hickman, Ohio State	LB Ivan Pace, Cincinnati	S Rashad Wisdom, UTSA
DE Jamal Hines, Toledo	LB James Patterson, Buffalo	CB Charles Woods, West Virginia
CB Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, TCU

By conference: SEC 14; ACC (10); Big 12 (10); Big Ten (10); Pac-12 (8); American Athletic (7); Mountain West (7); Sun Belt (7); Conference USA (4), Mid-American (4), Independents (4).

By position: Linebackers 25, Safeties 18, Ends 17, Cornerbacks 13, Tackles 12.

Players may be added or removed from the list before or during the season.

The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the association’s full membership, selects a 26-man All-America Team and eventually the Nagurski Trophy finalists. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner will be chosen from the five finalists named in November. Committee members, by individual ballot, select the winner they regard as the best defensive player in college football.

The FWAA has chosen a National Defensive Player of the Year since 1993. In 1995, the FWAA named the award in honor of the legendary two-way player from the University of Minnesota. Nagurski dominated college football, then became a star for professional football’s Chicago Bears in the 1930s. Bronislaw “Bronko” Nagurski is a charter member of both the College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame.

The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football’s most prestigious awards. The NCFAA’s 25 awards have honored more than 800 recipients since 1935. Visit NCFAA.org for more information.

The members of the NCFAA are unveiling preseason watch lists over a two-week period. Sixteen of the association’s 25 awards are presenting their preseason watch list during this time as the NCFAA has spearheaded a coordinated effort to promote each award’s preseason candidates. Following is the remaining 2022 preseason watch list calendar:

Wed., July 27: Lou Groza Award/Ray Guy Award
Thurs., July 28: Hornung Award/Wuerffel Trophy
Fri., July 29: Walter Camp Award
Mon., Aug. 1: Bednarik Award

July 26, 2022

2022 Outland Trophy watch list unveiled

by FWAA Editor • Outland Trophy • Tags: Football Writers Association of America, FWAA

DALLAS – The Football Writers Association of America has announced the preseason watch list for the 2022 Outland Trophy, recognizing 89 returning standout interior linemen representing all 10 Division I FBS conferences and independents. The 2022 season will close with the award’s 77th anniversary and the watch list offers a talented field of players to accompany two returning FWAA All-Americans.

The recipient of the 2022 Outland Trophy will be announced on The Home Depot College Football Awards, live on ESPN on Thurs., Dec. 8. The official presentation to the winner will be made at the Outland Trophy Awards Dinner sponsored by Werner Enterprises and produced by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee in Omaha, Neb., on Jan. 11, 2023.

Atop the list are two returning FWAA All-Americans, Baylor center Jacob Gall and Michigan center Olusegun Oluwatimi, each a second-team All-America selection last year. Gall, a redshirt senior, is one of three Baylor players on the list, tops in nation among the 67 teams represented along with Clemson and defending national champion Georgia. Oluwatimi, now a graduate student, will be in the middle of Michigan’s offensive line this fall after transferring from Virginia, where he guided the country’s third-leading offense up front, one that averaged 516.3 yards per game.

The Bears also offer redshirt senior Connor Galvin at offensive tackle and junior defensive tackle Siaki Ika, who plugged the middle of the nation’s 10th-best scoring defense at 18.3 points per game last year. Michigan, a College Football Playoff participant last year and one of 16 teams to have at least two players on the watch list, also offers junior guard Zak Zinter. The Wolverines averaged 214.36 rushing yards in their 14 games last year, 15th nationally.

Like Baylor, Clemson and Georgia’s three nominees are split between the offensive and defensive lines. The Bulldogs (first, 10.2 ppg) and Tigers (second, 14.8) were the top two scoring defenses in 2021. Returning off the Bulldogs’ stalwart defense that was second in rushing and total defense and included 2021 Outland Trophy winner Jordan Davis at defensive tackle, is his likely replacement Jalen Carter. The junior was a second-team All-SEC pick by the conference coaches last year despite playing behind two first-round NFL draft picks (Davis and fellow tackle Devonte Wyatt). Carter is joined by redshirt sophomore offensive tackle Broderick Jones and senior guard Warren Ericson.

The three Clemson players were each on last year’s watch list as well. The interior defense boasts two tackles in sophomore Bryan Bresee and senior Tyler Davis that helped the Tigers become seventh in rushing defense (96.31 ypg) and eighth in total defense (305.5) in the nation. They are joined by senior offensive tackle Jordan McFadden.

Only Georgia (Bill Stanfill, 1968) has had an Outland Trophy winner from the trio of schools with three selections. That led the Southeastern Conference again – Georgia led the SEC with three last year also – and the SEC led all conferences with 14 overall selections from nine different schools, with three of them hosting a player on each side of the line of scrimmage. Alabama, the national runner-up whose six all-time Outland winners are second only to Nebraska’s nine, has senior defensive tackle Justin Ebiogbe and redshirt senior guard Emil Ekiyor Jr. on the team. Florida boasts junior defensive tackle Gervon Dexter and senior offensive tackle O’Cyrus Torrence, a transfer from Sun Belt Conference champion Louisiana. Texas A&M has junior guard Layden Robinson on its offensive front with junior defensive tackle McKinnley Jackson in the middle of its defense.

Cincinnati, which qualified for the playoff with its standout defense a year ago, has two players on the list but both are on offense. Jake Renfro, a junior center, will guide the Bearcats’ front with senior offensive tackle Dylan O’Quinn on the outside. The pair of players from Michigan, Ohio State and Wisconsin led the Big Ten’s list of 11 players from eight different schools, second only to the SEC. Three of its 11 are defensive tackles – redshirt senior Jacob Slade of Michigan State, senior PJ Mustipher of Penn State and senior nose Keeanu Benton of Wisconsin.

Boise State, BYU, Miami, Notre Dame, Oregon, Pitt, Troy, USC and Utah also have two players on the list. The Atlantic Coast Conference had 11 players with the Big 12 and Pac-12 each with 10 followed by the American Athletic, Mountain West and Sun Belt Conferences plus the Independents with six each. Conference USA has five selections and the Mid-American Conference four. There are 29 offensive tackles on this year’s list, just ahead of 25 defensive tackles to go with 18 centers and 17 guards. Just over half of the 131 Football Bowl Subdivision schools – 67 – are represented on the list.

2022 OUTLAND TROPHY PRESEASON WATCH LIST

C Steve Avila, TCU	G A.J. Gillie, Louisiana	G Lokahi Pauole, UCF
G Clark Barrington, BYU	OT Anton Harrison, Oklahoma	OT Nolan Potter Jr., NIU
DT Kyon Barrs, Arizona	C Sincere Haynesworth, Tulane	C Jake Renfro, Cincinnati
G T.J. Bass, Oregon	OT Cooper Hodges, App State	G Layden Robinson, Texas A&M
OT Cooper Beebe, Kansas State	DT Siaki Ika, Baylor	DT Jaquelin Roy, LSU
DT Keeanu Benton, Wisconsin	DT McKinnley Jackson, Texas A&M	G Brendan Schlittler, Liberty
OT Connor Bishop, Army	DT Desjuan Johnson, Toledo	C John Michael Schmitz, Minnesota
DT Bryan Bresee, Clemson	OT Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State	OT Peter Skoronski, Northwestern
G Marco Brewer, Oregon State	OT Broderick Jones, Georgia	DT Jacob Slade, Michigan State
G Nick Broeker, Ole Miss	OT Dawand Jones, Ohio State	OT Everett Smalley, Air Force
DT Jalen Carter, Georgia	DT Calijah Kancey, Pitt	G Sidy Sow, Eastern Michigan
G Caleb Chandler, Louisville	OT Jaxson Kirkland, Washington	OT Cole Spencer, Texas Tech
DT Elijah Chatman, SMU	C Willie Lampkin, Coastal Carolina	OT Austin Stidham, Troy
DT Will Choloh, Troy	OT Quantavious Leslie, WKU	DT Dante Stills, West Virginia
C Eli Cox, Kentucky	G Josh Lugg, Notre Dame	C Ricky Stromberg, Arkansas
OT Braeden Daniels, Utah	G Christian Mahogany, Boston College	C Malik Sumter, Georgia State
DT Tyler Davis, Clemson	C Ahofitu Maka, UTSA	DT Junior Tafuna, Utah
DT Gervon Dexter, Florida	DT Scott Matlock, Boise State	DT Leonard Taylor, Miami
C Trevor Downing, Iowa State	OT Jordan McFadden, Clemson	OT Kadeem Telfort, UAB
DT Cory Durden, N.C. State	C Manase Mose, North Texas	OT Joe Tippmann, Wisconsin
DT Justin Eboigbe, Alabama	DT Myles Murphy, North Carolina	OT O’Cyrus Torrence, Florida
G Emil Ekiyor, Alabama	DT PJ Mustipher, Penn State	DT Tuli Tuipulotu, USC
DT Ikenna Enechukwu, Rice	OT Zion Nelson, Miami	C Alama Uluave, San Diego State
G Warren Ericson, Georgia	C Drake Nugent, Stanford	G Andrew Vorhees, USC
OT Alfred Edwards, Utah State	OT Dylan O’Quinn, Cincinnati	OT Carter Warren, Pitt
C Alex Forsyth, Oregon	OT John Ojukwu, Boise State	DT Daymond Williams, Buffalo
OT Blake Freeland, BYU	C Olusegun Oluwatimi, Michigan	OT Dylan Wonnum, South Carolina
OT Aaron Frost, Nevada	OT Alex Palczewski, Illinois	G Hunter Woodard, Oklahoma State
C Jacob Gall, Baylor	C Jarrett Patterson, Notre Dame	G Zak Zinter, Michigan
OT Connor Galvin, Baylor	OT Patrick Paul, Houston

Tackles, guards and centers are eligible for consideration; Candidates may be added or removed during the season.

The Outland Trophy winner is chosen from three finalists who are a 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. Only interior linemen on offense or defense are eligible for the award; ends are not eligible.

The Outland Trophy is the third-oldest major college football award. Created in 1946 when Dr. John Outland presented the FWAA with a financial contribution to initiate the award, the Outland Trophy has been given to the best interior lineman in college football ever since. Dr. Outland, an All-American at the University of Pennsylvania in the late 1890s, eventually took up practice in Kansas City, Mo. An avid outdoorsman, Dr. Outland believed linemen did not get the credit they deserved and wanted an award to recognize them.

The Outland Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football’s most prestigious awards. The NCFAA’s 25 awards have honored more than 800 recipients since 1935. Visit NCFAA.org for more information.

Wed., July 27: Lou Groza Award/Ray Guy Award
Thurs., July 28: Hornung Award/Wuerffel Trophy
Fri., July 29: Walter Camp Award
Mon., Aug. 1: Bednarik Award

July 15, 2022

Sports Illustrated’s Johnson wins Edward Aschoff Rising Star Award

by FWAA Editor • Edward Aschoff Rising Star Award, News • Tags: Football Writers Association of America, FWAA

DALLAS – Richard Johnson of Sports Illustrated is the recipient of the third Edward Aschoff Rising Star Award, which is presented annually by the Football Writers Association of America and named after the beloved ESPN college football reporter who died on Christmas Eve in 2019 on his 34th birthday from previously undetected Stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in his lungs.

“I count all my experiences in this field as continued education and there are too many editors and writers to name who have made me better and helped me along the way. I grew up reading many of them as a lifelong college football fan and it’s been incredible to get to know them as I grow in journalism.”

Johnson started at Sports Illustrated in the fall of 2021. He is known for his long-form storytelling, expertise on the coaching industry, and in depth reporting on the intersection of college sports and social justice with a blend of analysis and candor,

In 2021, Grace Raynor, who covers the Clemson Tigers for The Athletic, won the second Rising Star award. David Ubben, also of The Athletic, was the first recipient in 2020 as a beat reporter for the Tennessee Volunteers.

“Richard’s writing in particular is a combination of what makes all the best people in this business, “Ubben said. “It’s informative, well-reported and entertaining. And his television and podcast work has made him a breath of fresh air in a business where some can get stale. His work always includes interesting perspective and anyone who reads something from Richard will finish it having learned something.

“The people who can do that consistently are growing rare. I couldn’t be happier that Richard won this award. He’s everything right about sports writing and makes me so excited about the future.”

In honor of Aschoff, a bright light in the sports journalism industry, the FWAA in 2020 decided to recognize one promising journalist no older than 34, who has not only the talent and work ethic it takes to succeed in this business, but also the passion to make it better. Aschoff, a 2008 graduate of the University of Florida, loved people, and even as his career at ESPN escalated, he still guided and befriended younger journalists along the way.

Johnson, a University of Florida alum like Aschoff, knew Ed personally. The two actually spent time together, most recently in the spring of 2018 when they were reporting stories at Arizona State at the same time. They went to a Phoenix Suns game together.

“I remember when the FWAA announced this award a couple years ago,” Johnson said. “I immediately knew that I wanted to win it, and I guess it’s time to move past my jealousy of past winners David and Grace – I kid as they’re both great reporters who I’ve had the pleasure of meeting on the road the last few years.

“Ed is a prime example of how representation matters,” Johnson added. “There are unfortunately too few Black people covering this sport, and for as long as I’d known him, seeing Ed on television or his byline on the website was proof positive that he’d made it in this industry and that I could too. You could say I basically followed his blueprint from UF’s journalism school to covering the Gators all the way to ESPN, and it was an honor to shout him out during my first season on the SEC Network.”

Best of the weekend from CFB? Unquestionably @FloridaGators making sure @AschoffESPN was on hand in spirit for the game vs. South Carolina. Meant a lot to many of us. We miss you, brotha. ♥️ pic.twitter.com/XNjTxlPA9Q
— Richard🇬🇾Johnson (@RJ_Writes) October 6, 2020

Johnson began his professional career at ESPN in 2015 and later joined SB Nation as a national college football writer the following year. He spent four years working for the site before starting at Sports Illustrated in the fall of 2021. Johnson co-hosts the SEC Network show “Thinking Out Loud” in addition to co-hosting the college football podcast “Split Zone Duo.” He also makes regular appearances across ESPN linear and digital programming.

He is a co-author of “The Sinful Seven: Sci-Fi Western Legends of the NCAA” – an illustrated e-book about the history of college sports. Johnson, now based in Brooklyn, began his career as a writer for The Independent Florida Alligator student newspaper.

“Outside of the fact that he knew Ed and looked up to him, RJ has been growing as a writer on our staff, in addition to his continuing SEC Network duties,” said Sports Illustrated Executive Editor Joy Russo in nominating Johnson for the award. “…He has been determined to expand his sourcing profile across the sport, but has also been committed to covering race and inequities within football – the latter has been newer territory for him within the sport, but he’s been dedicated to finding more stories to tell there.”

Samples of Richard’s work:

https://www.si.com/nfl/2022/04/22/matt-araiza-nfl-draft-viral-punter

https://www.si.com/college/2022/04/14/florida-football-billy-napier-recruiting-spring

https://www.si.com/college/2021/10/14/texas-am-fake-recruit-locker-room-tiktok-video

“It may sound corny, and I don’t care, this really is more than just a trophy to me. “Johnson said. “This is Ed’s legacy, and I’m honored to be able to play a part in continuing it.”

Remembering Edward Aschoff

Aschoff moved to Los Angeles in 2017 to begin a more expanded national role that included television coverage. Over three seasons, he reported from campuses across the country for ESPN.com, SportsCenter, SEC Network and ESPN Radio, and he worked as a television and radio sideline reporter during college football games.

Aschoff inspired us through his storytelling, brightened our lives with his gregarious personality, and uplifted our spirits with his energy. The FWAA hopes to honor his memory and his commitment to aspiring journalists with this award.

“Edward epitomized everything you want in a sports journalist: He knew how to build relationships, to gain trust, to break stories but also to tell stories,” said ESPN.com’s Andrea Adelson. “And he did it all with a flair that made you want to watch his television pieces or read his written stories right away. His dogged determination and relentless work ethic allowed him to rise to the top at ESPN, and all his exemplary qualities serve as a model for young journalists everywhere about what truly can be achieved if you go after what you want.” The University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Communications has established the Edward Aschoff Memorial Fund, which will provide support for students involved in sports journalism.

“Edward was one of our stars – not just because he was so talented as a journalist and storyteller, but also because of everything he did to help people around him. He always had a good word of advice for young journalists, he was always willing to give back, and he always made people smile,” said Ted Spiker, chair of the department of journalism at the University of Florida who taught Edward in several classes at UF.

Jordan McPherson, a student reporter at Florida from 2013-17 who is now covering the Miami Marlins for the Miami Herald, said Aschoff helped him on several occasions. “He was a pro’s pro and touched my life with just a few brief interactions that he didn’t have to make,” McPherson said. “His positivity was infectious, his ability to mentor through simple conversation was second to none. He will be missed, but always be remembered.”

July 1, 2022

Deadline for entries in FWAA Best Writing Contest extended until July 15

by Ken • Rules • Tags: Football Writers Association of America, FWAA

FWAA members can begin submitting entries in the 30th Annual Best Writing Contest immediately. The deadline is July 15.

CATEGORIES

Game Story (Immediate Deadline)
Feature Story/Profile
Enterprise/Investigative
Column/Analysis/Commentary

In addition, we have the Beat Writer of the Year Award for the top beat writer as judged by a special FWAA committee headed by FWAA Executive Director Steve Richardson. See separate nomination/entry procedure below.

BEST WRITING CONTEST RULES

You must be an FWAA member in good standing to enter.

Deadline: July 15, 2022. Entries sent after the deadline WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

Limit: One (1) article per category, although a series of articles may be submitted in the enterprise category.

Entries must have appeared in print or on line between Feb. 1, 2021, and Jan. 31, 2022.

Entries must be submitted electronically to contest@fwaa.com. Entries not sent to this e-mail address will not be accepted.

Send MS Word or text files only. DO NOT SEND HTML files, Word Perfect files, stories in other word processing software or links to stories on the Internet or electronic libraries.

Make your entry easy to read by taking out unnecessary carriage returns (They can give your entry an odd look when opened by a judge’s word processing program).

Delete any embedded advertising, photos and cutlines from the files (The file should contain only your story and your identifying information).

At the top of each entry, the following information should be included:

Writer(s)
Publication or online service
Category
Date of publication
E-mail address and telephone number for the writer(s) of the entry.

The entries will be sorted and stripped of identifying information and forwarded to the judge(s).

Files containing your entries should follow this naming convention: yourname-category.doc

The category must be one of these four words: Game, Feature, Enterprise or Column

Example: KenStephens-game.doc.

Questions on the Best Writing Contest? E-mail Ken Stephens at ken.stephens@sbcglobal.net.

FWAA BEAT WRITER OF THE YEAR AWARD

If you have a nomination of a beat writer who covers major college football (either a team or a conference) or you want to nominate yourself, please send an e-mail/letter explaining the qualifications of the person (no more than 250 words) to:

Steve Richardson
FWAA
18652 Vista Del Sol
Dallas, TX 75287
tiger@fwaa.com
Cell: 214-870-6516

Steve and his committee will then make inquiries into the FWAA members nominated. In order to qualify for this award the person nominated must have been an FWAA member during the 2021 football season.

May 19, 2022

FWAA selects ‘Super 11’ for 2021 season

by FWAA Editor • News • Tags: Football Writers Association of America, FWAA, Super 11 Pressbox Ratings

DALLAS – Three first-time winners and eight previous ones comprise the 13th Annual Super 11 Awards, which the Football Writers Association of America rewards annually to the best performing sports information departments in the Football Bowl Subdivision. The awards announced this week are for the 2021 season.

In addition, the FWAA presented a Super 11 Coach of the Year Award to Boston College Coach Jeff Hafley who granted outstanding access to his program during the 2021 season. He is the fourth head coach to win this award, which began with the 2018 season.

As for the 2021 departmental awards, Clemson and Colorado each collected a ninth award and Nebraska an eighth. Navy won for a fifth time, Kansas State a fourth time, and Iowa, Miami (Fla.) and Ole Miss each a second time.

The first-time recipients in the award series, which dates back to the 2009 season, are Louisville, New Mexico and South Carolina. Seven of the 10 FBS Conferences are represented among the 11 winners.

Sports information offices in some cases were still doing zoom calls for interviews, but there were also many in-person interviews with players, head coaches and assistant coaches observing social distancing and health safety protocols when interacting with the media.

“The 2020 and 2021 football seasons featured unprecedented challenges for all of us, but some sports information departments worked with coaches and players to go above and beyond and to make sure media could do their jobs and provide fans with the information they crave,” said David Ubben, 2022 FWAA President. “That allows all of us to have jobs, and we’re appreciative of these departments for providing that access while also making sure both media and members of football programs remain safe. College football is better and grows when sports information departments are able to provide as much access as possible.”

This year’s winners were deemed to have had excellent accessibility during the week of the game and after the game – with a program’s players, coaches and assistant coaches – along with the other listed criteria on page 22 of the 2021-22 FWAA Directory.

“What is always encouraging is that we had first-time winners,” said FWAA Executive Director Steve Richardson. “Our membership wants access to players and coaches after games, of course, but also for human interest and analytical stories during the week. Assistant coaches are also part of the mix that give stories depth. Over the years, for a variety of reasons this access has been restricted.

“We believe there are many good stories out there that can be told if they are allowed to be told if our members are allowed good access.”

FWAA members provided input during the season and made comments in an FWAA Awards survey after the 2021 season. In addition, SID press boxes were judged on how well they were run and maintained in terms of neutrality, pool reporters and noise level that could affect a media person’s ability to do his or her job. In recent years, the availability of nearby press parking has become a plus.

In January 2009, the FWAA formed the first Super 11 Committee. The concept is supported by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). The FWAA has awarded Super 11 to 77 different programs over the years.

Founded in 1941, the Football Writers Association of America consists of journalists, broadcasters, publicists, photographers and key executives in all areas of college football. The FWAA works to govern media access and game-day operations while presenting awards and honors, including an annual FWAA All-America Team. For more information about the FWAA and its program and initiatives, contact Executive Director Steve Richardson at 214-870-6516 or tiger@fwaa.com.

The 2021 Super 11
Clemson (9)
Colorado (9)
Iowa (2)
Kansas State (4)
Louisville (1)
Miami (2)
Ole Miss (2)
Navy (5)
Nebraska (8)
New Mexico (1)
South Carolina (1)

2021 Super 11 Coach of the Year
Jeff Hafley, Boston College

Related link:
• Super 11 Awards (including complete selection criteria)

May 17, 2022

Reminder to FWAA members: Enter the 30th Annual FWAA Best Writing Contest

by FWAA Editor • Rules • Tags: Football Writers Association of America, FWAA

FWAA members can begin submitting entries in the 30th Annual Best Writing Contest immediately. The deadline is July 1.

CATEGORIES

Game Story (Immediate Deadline)
Feature Story/Profile
Enterprise/Investigative
Column/Analysis/Commentary

BEST WRITING CONTEST RULES

You must be an FWAA member in good standing to enter.

Deadline: July 1, 2022. Entries sent after the deadline WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

Limit: One (1) article per category, although a series of articles may be submitted in the enterprise category.

Entries must have appeared in print or on line between Feb. 1, 2021, and Jan. 31, 2022.

Entries must be submitted electronically to contest@fwaa.com. Entries not sent to this e-mail address will not be accepted.

Send MS Word or text files only. DO NOT SEND HTML files, Word Perfect files, stories in other word processing software or links to stories on the Internet or electronic libraries.

Make your entry easy to read by taking out unnecessary carriage returns (They can give your entry an odd look when opened by a judge’s word processing program).

Delete any embedded advertising, photos and cutlines from the files (The file should contain only your story and your identifying information).

At the top of each entry, the following information should be included:

Writer(s)
Publication or online service
Category
Date of publication
E-mail address and telephone number for the writer(s) of the entry.

The entries will be sorted and stripped of identifying information and forwarded to the judge(s).

Files containing your entries should follow this naming convention: yourname-category.doc

The category must be one of these four words: Game, Feature, Enterprise or Column

Example: KenStephens-game.doc.

Questions on the Best Writing Contest? E-mail Ken Stephens at ken.stephens@sbcglobal.net.

FWAA BEAT WRITER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Steve Richardson
FWAA
18652 Vista Del Sol
Dallas, TX 75287
tiger@fwaa.com
Cell: 214-870-6516

May 2, 2022

Nominations sought 2022 Armed Forces Merit Award

by FWAA Editor • Armed Forces Merit Award • Tags: Football Writers Association of America, FWAA

Fort Worth, Texas — Nominations are now being accepted for the 2022 Armed Forces Merit Award presented by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA).

Coordinated by the staff at the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl, the Armed Forces Merit Award presented by the FWAA was created in June 2012 “to honor an individual and/or a group with a military background and/or involvement that have an impact within the realm of college football.”

With the 2022 recipient being announced Thursday, November 11, 2022, nominations for the 2022 Armed Forces Merit Award will be accepted through October 1 when a selection committee of seven FWAA members and two representatives from the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl will review the list of candidates for the 11th annual presentation.

“We are pleased to join with the Football Writers Association of America to honor an individual with a military background or group that works with our armed services that has an impact within college football,” said Brant Ringler, the executive director of the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl.

FWAA executive director Steve Richardson echoed Ringler’s sentiments along with adding that “we have an outstanding list of candidates each year and it is difficult to honor only one recipient when there are several individuals and programs that are very deserving of the honor.”

With 31 nominations (28 individuals and three programs) considered for the 2021 award, University of Nebraska linebacker Damien Jackson was selected as the 10th recipient of the Armed Forces Merit Award. A Cornhusker walk-on in 2007 after serving four years in the military as a member of the Navy SEALs, Jackson was placed on scholarship for the 2020 season and has played in the 20 games for Nebraska.

Jackson Has made the Big 10 All-Academic team that last four seasons. Before his military service, Jackson played baseball and soccer at Shadow Ridge High in Las Vegas, Nev. A child, youth and family studies major, Jackson earned his degree in December of 2021. He has volunteered his time with the Nebraska Football Road Race, a Day of Service and local hospital visits.

Past recipients of the Armed Forces Merit Award presented by the FWAA include Nate Boyer of the University of Texas (2012), Brandon McCoy of the University of North Texas (2013), Daniel Rodriguez from Clemson University (2014), Bret Robertson of Westminster College (Fulton, Mo., 2015), Steven Rhodes from Middle Tennessee State University (2016), Dr. Chris Howard from Robert Morris University (2018), Army West Point assistant coach Mike Viti (2019) and Collin O’Donnell of Bluefield College of Virginia.

Kansas State and its football team were honored in November 2017 as the sixth recipient of the Armed Forces Merit Award for the university’s partnership with the United States Army that created a bond between the school’s athletic department and the Iron Rangers at Fort Riley.

Nominations for the 2022 Armed Forces Merit Award presented by the FWAA should be submitted to Tim Simmons (bfishinc@aol.com, 303/678-8484), the award’s coordinator, by October 1. The nomination link can be found at https://www.armedforcesbowl.com/armed-forces#meritaward-section.

2022 Nominations

Programs (7)

Athletes Of Valor, Alex Stone, Founder & CEO, Athletes of Valor (U. S. Marines)
Battlefields To Ballfields, Mike Pereira, CEO/President/Director
Bronze Boot Run – Laramie to Fort Collins prior to the Wyoming at Colorado State football game
National Association of College Directors of Athletics, Wounded Warrior Project
Thomas University Military Transition Initiative
Georgia Military College, Milledgeville, Ga.
New Mexico Military Institute, Roswell, N.M.

Active Players (1)

Kyran Griffin-Isom, Troy University, WR, 6-3, 169, Jun., New Orleans, La. (U. S. Marines)

Football Coaching Staff (19)

Troy Calhoun, Head Coach, United States Air Force Academy (U. S. Air Force)
Jake Campbell, Assistant Backfield, United States Air Force Academy (U. S. Air Force)
C.B. Cornett, Volunteer Coach-Linebackers, Georgia Military College (U. S. Marines Corps)
Robert Green, Cornerbacks & Director of Racial Equality, United States Naval Academy (U. S. Marine Corps)
Charlie Jackson, Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Backs, United States Air Force Academy (U. S. Air Force)
Brian Knorr, Inside Linebackers, U. S. Air Force Academy (U. S. Air Force)
Ken Lamendola, Inside Linebackers, U. S. Air Force Academy (U. S. Air Force)
Steed Lobotzke, Offensive Line, United States Air Force Academy (U. S. Air Force)
Curtis Luper, Running Backs, Missouri (U. S. Army)
Alex Means, Outside Linebackers, United States Air Force Academy (U. S. Air Force)
Ben Miller, Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends Coach, Illinois (U. S. Air Force)
Blane Morgan, Head Coach, Lamar University (U. S. Air Force)
Andre Morris, Spurs, United States Air Force Academy (U. S. Air Force)
John Rudzinski, Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs, Virginia (U. S. Air Force)
Brett Skene, Offensive Assistant, United States Air Force Academy (U. S. Air Force)
Trent Steelman, Quarterbacks, Eastern Kentucky University (U. S. Army)
Mike Thiessen, Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks, United States Air Force Academy (U. S. Air Force)
Charlton Warren, Co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs, North Carolina (U. S. Air Force)
Mick Yokitis, Wide Receivers, United States Naval Academy (U. S. Navy)

Football Support Staff (9)

Clayton Kendrick-Holmes, Chief of Staff/Football Operations, United States Military Academy (U. S. Navy)
Chris Lehmann, Colorado & Colorado State Football, Wyoming Air National Guard
LTC John Nawoichyk, Assistant AD/Military Operations, United States Military Academy (U. S. Army)
Omar Nelson, Director of Player Development, United States Naval Academy (U. S. Navy)
CPT Blake Powers, Admission Support, United States Military Academy (U. S. Army)
Trey Reed, Assistant Athletic Director, Athletic Communications, Midwestern State (U. S. Army)
Steve Senn, Director of Recruiting, United States Air Force Academy (U. S. Air Force)
Jordon Simmons, Assistant Head Coach – Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Colorado State (U. S. Army)
Rusty Whitt, Football Strength & Conditioning Coach, Troy (U. S. Army)

University Leadership (3)

Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., Chancellor of Troy (U. S. Marine Corps)
im Knowlton, Director of Athletics, California (U. S. Army)
Natesh Rao, Senior Associate Athletic Director, Arizona State (U. S. Navy)

February 2, 2022

Call for entries: Submit your work for the 30th Annual FWAA Best Writing Contest ¹

by FWAA Editor • Rules • Tags: Football Writers Association of America, FWAA

FWAA members can begin submitting entries in the 30th Annual Best Writing Contest immediately. The deadline is July 1.

CATEGORIES

Game Story (Immediate Deadline)
Feature Story/Profile
Enterprise/Investigative
Column/Analysis/Commentary