As we inch closer and closer to the opening of the college football season, the committees that are in charge of choosing who wins the big time individual awards. In general a preseason watch list will contain the best 30-50 players at the given position which can seem like a list of the best players on the top teams. Obviously, I am not going to complain about getting recognition to the players and team. The list seems to be growing every day, so be on the look out for more as the month progresses.
TJ Moe– Biletnikoff Award (Best Wide Receiver)
Michael Egnew– Mackey Award (Best Tight End)
Dan Hoch– Outland Trophy (Best Interior Linemen)
Zaviar Gooden– Bednarik and Nagurski Awards (Best Defensive Player)
Brad Madison– Nagurski Award (Best Defensive Player)
Grant Ressel– Lou Groza Award (Best Kicker)
More analysis after the jump.
I have a problem with the Biletnikoff award since somehow Danario Alexander wasn’t a finalist his Senior season, even though he had a season that we have not seen in a long time, but on a positive note Jeremy Maclin was a finalist his senior season the year before. I wouldn’t expect Moe to be in the running for this award past the semi-finalist stage considering he has a first year quarterback throwing to him.
In the past, I have been pretty vocal on how I feel about the Missouri tight end situation. I have always said that even though I really enjoy the accolades that the program gets for constantly having great tight end play, the likes of Rucker, Coffman, and Egnew are just big wide receivers. None of the three players that I named lined up at the traditional tight end postion their whole college career. I once tried to make this point happen on facebook…and this happened.
Yes, that is the Martin Rucker. Anyway, Egnew was a finalist for the award last year and should have a good chance to win the award this season if his numbers stay about where they were last year.
It is really cool to see Gooden getting recognition by a couple of different awards. Brad Madison should be someone to watch this season after his breakout year off of the bench. Dan Hoch should have a good shot at the semi-finalist list because it always seems like a Mizzou linemen gets put on that list.
Missouri kickers always seem to get snubbed for awards even though they are the among the most consistent kickers in the NCAA. Although, Ressel could have a chance at the award with a solid year this year.