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Every Beehive State College Football Player Named To Award Watch Lists

Aug 15, 2024, 3:11 PM

Utah Football Cam-Rising-Passes-Ball-To-Brant-Kuithe-At-RES college football award watch lists...

SEPTEMBER 25 : Cam Rising #7 of the Utah Utes throws a pass to Brant Kuithe #80 under pressure from Ron Stone Jr., #10 of the Washington State Cougars during their game September 25, 2021 at Rice Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)

(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)

Chandler Holt's Profile Picture

BY CHANDLER HOLT


KSL Sports

SALT LAKE CITY – The College Football season is right around the corner and numerous locals have been named to award watch lists.

A total of 35 Utes, Cougars, and Aggies received recognition across 19 watch lists.

Utah Utes

Polynesian College Football Player of the Year

A total of ten Utes were named to the Polynesian CFB POTY watchlist. The award is “presented annually to the most outstanding Polynesian college football player that epitomizes great ability and integrity.”

DT Simote Pepa, DT Junior Tafuna, OL Spencer Fano, OL Michael Mokofisi, S Alaka’i Gilman, DE Logan Fano, LB Karene Reid, DT Keanu Tanuvasa, OL Caleb Lomu, and OL Tanoa Togiai are Utah’s nominations.

Comeback Player of the Year

QB Cam Rising and TE Brant Kuithe were named to the Comeback Player of the Year watchlist, given to “college football student-athletes for overcoming injury, illness, or other circumstances.”

Chuck Bednarik Award

Tafuna was named to the Bednarik Award watchlist, an award presented to the best defensive player in college football.

Bronko Nagurski, Outland Trophies

Tafuna was named to three more watch lists. Two of which are for the Nagurski Trophy and the Outland Trophy.

The Nagurski Trophy recognizes the best defensive player in FBS football and the Outland Trophy which is presented to the nation’s best interior lineman.

Maxwell Award

Rising received even more recognition as he was placed on the Maxwell Award watchlist which is given annually to the most outstanding player in college football.

Butkus Award

Lander Barton and Reid were both named to the Butkus Award watchlist which honors the top linebacker in the country.

Patrick Mannelly Award

JT Greep was placed on the Mannelly Award watchlist which honors the best long snapper in FBS football.

Ray Guy Award

Utah’s Jack Bouwmeester earned a spot on the Ray Guy Award watchlist. The award honors the nation’s best collegiate punter.

Davey O’Brien Award

Rising made another watch list appearance for the O’Brien Award which is awarded to the quarterback who best exhibits “teamwork, sportsmanship and leadership in both academics and athletics.”

John Mackey Award

Kuithe was also named to the Mackey Award watchlist which is given annually to the most outstanding collegiate tight end.

Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award

Rising’s final watch list appearance was for the Unitas Golden Arm Award. The award is presented to the “nation’s top quarterback who best exemplifies character, scholastic and athletic achievement.”

Lombardi Award

The final watch list appearance for Utah and Tafuna may be the biggest of them all. He was named to the Lombardi Award watchlist which honors the “college football lineman who displays exceptional performance and ability and embodies character and discipline.”

BYU Cougars

Polynesian College Football Player of the Year

Five Cougars were named to the Polynesian CFB POTY watchlist. The award is “presented annually to the most outstanding Polynesian college football player that epitomizes great ability and integrity.”

S Raider Damuni, WR Keanu Hill, OL Weylin Lapuaho, DT David Latu, and OL Austin Leausa are BYU’s nominations.

Comeback Player of the Year

RB Hinckley Ropati and QB Gerry Bohanon were named to the Comeback Player of the Year watchlist, given to “college football student-athletes for overcoming injury, illness, or other circumstances.”

Chuck Bednarik Award

DE Tyler Batty was named to the Bednarik Award watchlist, an award presented to the best defensive player in college football.

Bronko Nagurski Trophy

Batty also earned a spot on the Nagurski Trophy watchlist which recognizes the best defensive player in FBS football.

Butkus Award

Weber State transfer Jack Kelly was named to the Butkus Award watchlist which honors the top linebacker in the country.

Doak Walker Award

RB LJ Martin was named to the Doak Walker Award watchlist which is presented to the nation’s premier running back.

Paul Hornung Award

WR Parker Kingston was placed on the Hornung Award watchlist which highlights the most versatile player in major college football.

All-State Wuerffel Trophy

OL Connor Pay was the only local football player to earn a spot on the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy watchlist which honors “the FBS player who best combines exemplary community service with leadership achievement on and off the field.”

Rimington Trophy

Pay received one more watch list spot for the Rimington Trophy. The trophy is given to the best center in college football.

Utah State Aggies

Polynesian College Football Player of the Year

Two Aggies were named to the Polynesian CFB POTY watchlist. The award is “presented annually to the most outstanding Polynesian college football player that epitomizes great ability and integrity.”

OL Tavo Motu’apuaka and OL Falepule Alo are Utah State’s nominations.

Comeback Player of the Year

QB Spencer Petras and DE Lawrence Falatea were named to the Comeback Player of the Year watchlist, given to “college football student-athletes for overcoming injury, illness, or other circumstances.”

Chuck Bednarik Award

S Ike Larsen was named to the Bednarik Award watchlist, an award presented to the best defensive player in college football.

Bronko Nagurski Trophy

Larsen was named to three watch lists ahead of the 2024 season, the second being the Nagurski Trophy which recognizes the best defensive player in FBS football.

Maxwell Award

WR Jalen Royals made two watch lists. The first was the Maxwell Award watchlist which is given annually to the most outstanding player in college football.

Doak Walker Award

RB Rahsul Faison was named to the Doak Walker Award watchlist which is presented to the nation’s premier running back.

Patrick Mannelly Award

Jacob Garcia got some love on the Mannelly Award watchlist which honors the best long snapper in FBS football.

Ray Guy Award

Stephen Kotsanlee was named to the Ray Guy Award watchlist. The award honors the nation’s best collegiate punter.

Jim Thorpe Award

Larsen’s last watch list appearance is for the Jim Thorpe Award which is awarded to the “best defensive back in college football based on performance on the field, athletic ability, and character.”

Biletnikoff Award

Royals was also placed on the Biletnikoff Award watchlist which is presented to the nation’s most outstanding college football receiver regardless of position.

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Chandler Holt is a co-host of the Jazz Notes podcast, a Locals In The NFL Insider, and Digital Sports Producer for sports.ksl.com. Follow Chandler on Twitter @ChandlerHoltKSL or on Threads @chandlerho1t.

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Every Beehive State College Football Player Named To Award Watch Lists