Buckeye 50 Yard Line
Award & Watch Lists
2008
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JENKINS ON 2008 THORPE WATCH LIST
(7/8/2008)
Senior Malcolm Jenkins is one of 40 players on the preseason watch list for the Jim Thorpe Award given to the best defensive back in college football. He was a finalist for the award last year before losing to the eventual winner Antoine Cason of Arizona.
A “Screening Committee” of Jim Thorpe Association members grades the Thorpe Award candidates throughout the season on the basis of performance on the field, athletic ability and character. The committee meets on the first Monday in November to narrow the field to 10 or 12 semifinalists. Three finalists are slated to be named on the Monday before Thanksgiving.
The list of finalists is then submitted to a national panel of sports writers, sportscasters, coaches and former players that votes to determine the winner. The finalists are invited to the ESPN College Football Awards Show, during which the winner is announced.
2008 Jim Thorpe Award Watch List: Asher Allen, Georgia; Nate Allen, South Florida; Antonio Baker, Louisiana Tech; Eric Berry, Tennessee; David Bruton, Notre Dame; Joe Burnett, Univ. Central Florida; Jairus Byrd, Oregon; Chris Chancellor, Clemson; Kam Chancellor, Virginia Tech; Barry Church, Toledo; Patrick Chung, Oregon; Emanuel Cook, South Carolina; Vontae Davis, Illinois; Kevin Ellison, Southern California; Londen Fryar, W. Michigan; Courtney Greene, Rutgers; Michael Hamlin, Clemson; Nic Harris, Oklahoma; Victor Harris, Virginia Tech; Stephen Hodge, TCU; Brandon Hughes, Oregon State; Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State; Rashad Johnson, Alabama; Jordan Lake, Baylor; Trevard Lindley, Kentucky; Taylor Mays , Southern California; D.J. Moore, Vanderbilt; Mike Mickens, Cincinnati; William Moore, Missouri; Captain Munnerlyn, South Carolina; Troy Nolan, Arizona State; Derek Pegues; Mississippi State; Tavious Polo, Florida Atlantic; Myron Rolle, Florida State; Corey Small, Florida Atlantic; Alphonso Smith, Wake Forest; DeAngelo Smith, Cincinnati; Walter Thurmond, Oregon; Chip Vaughn, Wake Forest; DeAndre Wright, New Mexico.
The only previous winner of this award from Ohio State was Antoine Winfield who won the award in 1998.
JAMES LAURINAITIS ON CAMP AWARD WATCH LIST
(8/23/2007)
Linebacker James Laurinaitis is one of 37 players on the Walter Camp Football Foundation's watch list for its 2007 player of the year award. Last season Buckeyes quarterback Troy Smith won the award, college football's fourth-oldest individual honor. The watch list will be narrowed to 10 players in early November. id.
The complete list of players on the watch list:
Anthony Alridge, RB, Senior, Houston: Travis Beckum, TE, Junior, Wisconsin: Earl Bennett, WR, Junior, Vanderbilt: Yvenson Bernard, RB, Senior, Oregon State: Tommy Blake, DL, Senior, TCU: John David Booty, QB, USC: Colt Brennan, QB, Senior, Hawaii: Jasper Brinkley, LB, Senior, South Carolina: Brian Brohm, QB, Senior, Louisville: Dan Connor, LB, Senior, Penn State: Chase Daniel,QB, Junior, Missouri: James Davis, RB, Junior, Clemson: Jarett Dillard, WR, Senior, Rice: Glenn Dorsey, DL, Senior, LSU: Michael Hart, RB, Senior, Michigan: Omar Haugabook, QB, Senior, Troy: Jonathan Hefney, DB/KR, Senior, Tennessee: P.J. Hill, RB, Sophomore, Wisconsin: Chad Henne, QB, Senior, Michigan: DeSean Jackson, WR/KR, Junior, California: Lawrence Jackson, DE, Junior, USC: Tyson Jackson, DL, Junior, LSU: Ian Johnson, RB, Junior, Boise State: James Laurinaitis, LB, Junior, Ohio State: Nate Longshore, QB, Junior, California: Mario Manningham, WR, Senior, Michigan: Colt McCoy, QB, Sophomore, Texas: Darren McFadden, RB, Junior, Arkansas: Kalvin McRae, RB, Senior, Ohio: Matt Ryan, QB, Senior, Boston College: Ray Rice, RB, Junior, Rutgers: Steve Slaton, RB, Junior, West Virginia: C.J. Spiller, RB, Sophomore, Clemson: Tyrell Sutton, RB, Junior, Northwestern: Limas Sweed, WR, Senior, Texas: Aquib Talib, DB, Junior, Kansas: Pat White, QB, Junior, West Virginia
A.J. TRAPASSO ON RAY GUY WATCH LIST
(9/19/2007)
Ohio State's A.J. Trapasso is among 41 players included on the 2007 watch list for the Ray Guy Award, awarded annually to the top punter in college football.
The list will be narrowed to 10 semifinalists in early November and to three players at the end of that month. The award will be presented December 6th on ESPN as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards Show.
Trapasso, a junior from Pickerington High School, has punted 11 times for a 42.9-yard average. Five of his punts have been downed inside the opponent's 20-yard line.
Ryan Weigand of Virginia leads the nation with a 49.3-yard average after 13 punts. He is not on the Guy watch list.
TROY SMITH WINS HEISMAN
(12/9/2006)
Troy Smith was the overwhelming winner of the Heisman Trophy, awarded to U.S. college football's top player, after a vote announced 12/9/06. He is the first quarterback to win the award for Ohio State and the Big Ten. He was outstanding in leading the Buckeyes (12-0) through an unbeaten regular season. He was fourth in passer rating (167.9) and threw for 2,507 yards and 30 touchdowns with only five interceptions.
Smith became the sixth Ohio State player to win the award , beating out Arkansas running back Darren McFadden and Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn, the other two finalists.
Smith received a record 86.7 percent of the first place votes, and he had 2,540 points in balloting, giving him 1,662 points more than the runner-up McFadden. His 801 first place votes was the second-highest total ever and his overall points mark was the third highest. The Heisman Trophy has been awarded since 1935, when Jay Berwanger of the University of Chicago was the first winner. Southern California tailback O.J. Simpson had the biggest margin of victory in the voting when he won the award in 1968.
"I'm at a loss for words," Smith said. "I just can't believe this is happening.
"It means everything. Just to be here in this situation. I love everybody back home in Columbus."
The poll was conducted among 145 media voters along with all past Heisman winners.
Ohio State heads into the BCS championship game against Florida on January 8 in Glendale, Ariz., with Smith, a senior, having a 25-2 record as a starter.
TROY SMITH WINS O'BRIEN AND CAMP AWARDS
(12/7/2006)
Troy Smith won the Davey O'Brien Award as the NCAA's best quarterback and earlier in the day was honored as player of the year by the Walter Camp Foundation.
"I am extremely overwhelmed and at a loss for words right now," said Smith, who led Ohio State to a berth in the BCS championship game against Florida on Jan. 8. "I can remember last year Vince Young clutching the Davey O'Brien Award and it meant so much to him. When you add the Walter Camp Award to that, its amazing. "Vince's team went on to win the national championship after he won the Davey O'Brien, and that's exactly what I'm looking to do. There's nothing wrong with leaving legacies like that."
The Big Ten offensive player of the year, Smith led Ohio State to a 12-0 record with 2,740 total yards. He threw a school-record 30 touchdown passes and led the Big Ten in passing efficiency
Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn won the Maxwell Award as the player of the year Thursday night, beating out Heisman Trophy favorite Troy Smith at the U.S. college football awards show.
Darren McFadden, a sophomore who led Arkansas to the SEC title game, won the Doak Walker Award as the NCAA's best running back. He is the first SEC player to win the award since Georgia's Garrison Hearst in 1992.
Penn State's Paul Posluszny was the only repeat winner from 2005. For the second straight year, the Nittany Lions linebacker won the Chuck Bednarik Award as the NCAA's best defensive player.
Rutgers coach Greg Schiano was chosen as The Home Depot Coach of the Year for turning around the Scarlet Knights (10-2).
Other award winners were: Joe Thomas, Wisconsin, Outland Trophy (best interior linemen); Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech, Biletnikoff Award (best wide receiver); Aaron Ross, Texas, Jim Thorpe Award (best defensive back); Patrick Willis, Mississippi, Butkus Award (best linebacker); Arthur Carmody, Louisville, Lou Groza Award (best kicker); and Daniel Sepulveda, Baylor, Ray Guy Award (best punter).
Ohio State
Award Winners
2006
LAURINAITIS SEMIFINALIST FOR TWO AWARDS
(10/20/2007)
Linebacker James Laurinaitis is among 12 candidates for the Lomardi award and among 10 finalists for the Butkus award The Lombardi is given to the top lineman or linebacker, where the Butkus is for the nation's best linebacker.
Last year he won the Nagurski as the nation's top defensive player and was a Butkus finalist.
Winners for both awards will be announced in December.
TODD BOECKMAN SEMIFINALIST FOR DAVEY O'BRIEN
(10/29/2007)
Quarterback Todd Boeckman was named today as part of the list of 15 semifinalists for the Davey O'Brien Award. The O’Brien honors the nation’s best college quarterback of the year and inspires student-athletes to triumph both on and off the field, recognizing the player for character and leadership combined with talent and academics.
The following players were announced as members of the 2007 O’Brien National Quarterback Award Semifinalist List: Todd Boeckman, Ohio State, Jr, Sam Bradford, Oklahoma, Fr, Colt Brennan, Hawaii, Sr, Brian Brohm, Louisville, Sr, Shaun Carney, Air Force, Sr, Rudy Carpenter, Arizona State, Jr, Chase Daniel, Missouri, Jr, Dennis Dixon, Oregon, Sr, Graham Harrell, Texas Tech, Jr, Corey Leonard, Arkansas State, So, Todd Reesing, Kansas, So, Matt Ryan, Boston College, Sr, Tim Tebow, Florida, So, Pat White, West Virginia, Jr, Andre' Woodson, Kentucky, Sr.
This group of 15 quarterbacks will continue to try to impress the committee and the fans until the balloting for the three Finalists closes at noon Central Time on Sunday, November 18th. All Finalists will be in attendance in Orlando, FL, where The O’Brien Winner will be announced on The Home Depot College Football Awards Show on ESPN December 6th.
Fans are able to vote for Semifinalist candidates once daily on The O’Brien’s Web site, www.DaveyOBrien.com. The voting will continue throughout the Semifinalist and Finalist rounds until The O’Brien winner is announced, with 5% of the final tally coming directly from the Fan Vote.
BRIAN ROBISKIE SEMIFINALIST FOR BILETNIKOFF
(10/30/2007)
Receiver Brian Robiskie has been placed on the semifinalist list for the 2007 Biletnikoff Award. Established in 1994, Biletnikoff Award candidates must display leadership and self-discipline, have a significant positive impact on his team¹s success as well as have a desire and commitment to be the best player he can be.
Over 50 Prominent journalists, commentators, announcers, and former players select the winner through a process audited by a CPA firm. While the TQC Foundation Trustees manage the organization, they have no role in the winner's selection. The award is presented annually on the ESPN College Awards Show and the TQC Foundation hosts the party at Walt Disney World for the finalists and sponsoring organizations of the many awards presented on ESPN.
Finalists for the Biletnikoff Award will be named in November with the winner to be announced on December 6th.
AJ TRAPASSO SEMIFINALIST FOR RAY GUY
(11/02/2007)
OSU Punter AJ Trapasso was named today as a semifinalist for the 2007 Ray Guy Award, which identifies the nation’s top collegiate punter. This year 56 punters were originally nominated for the honor. Each of the punters on the list was evaluated on his overall statistics and contribution to the team. Particular emphasis was placed on the following categories: net average, percentage of total punts inside the 20-yard line, average return yardage, and percentage not returned.
The complete list of semifinalists includes: Durant Brooks (Georgia Tech) Sr, Keenyn Crier (Arizona) Fr, Kevin Huber (Cincinnati) Jr, Brett Kern (Toledo) Sr, Andrew Larson (California) Sr, Chris Miller (Ball State) Jr, Tim Reyer (Kansas State) Sr, Louie Sakoda (Utah) Jr, AJ Trapasso (Ohio State) Jr, Ben Woods (Buffalo) Sr
A national voting body of Division 1-A coaches, sports information directors, national media, and former punters will decide the three award finalists, and ultimately the winner of the award. The winner will be announced live during the Home Depot College Football Awards show December 6.
MALCOLM JENKINS SEMIFINALIST FOR JIM THORPE AWARD(11/05/2007)
Malcolm Jenkins has been named as a semifinalist for the 2007 Jim Thorpe Award, which identifies the which is given annually to college football's top defensive back.
The complete list of semifinalists includes: UCLA's Trey Brown, Arizona's Antoine Cason, Illinois' Vontae Davis, Ohio State's Malcolm Jenkins, South Florida's Mike Jenkins, Miami's Kenny Phillips, Boston College's Mike Silva, Oklahoma's Reggie Smith, LSU's Craig Steltz, Wyoming's Julius Stinson, Kansas' Aqib Talib and Notre Dame's Tom Zbikowski.
The winner who will be narrowed to three finalists on Nov. 19 and the three finalists will be invited to the college football awards show on Dec. 6, where a winner will be announced.
LAURINAITIS FINALIST FOR BUTKUS AWARD
(11/08/2007)
Junior linebacker James Laurinaitis is one of three finalists for the Butkus Award, awarded annually by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando to the country's best collegiate linebacker. Dan Connor of Penn State and Jordon Dizon of Colorado are the other finalists. Andy Katzenmoyer in 1997 is the only Ohio State player to win the award, which was first presented in 1985.
LAURINAITIS FINALIST FOR LOTT AWARD
(11/27/2007)
James Laurinaitis is on just about ever award list these days, you can add the Lott award to the list. The Lott Trophy, in its fourth year, is given to a defensive player for on- and off-field performance. The other three finalists are Louisiana State defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, Illinois linebacker J Leman and Virginia defensive end Chris Long.
Laurinaitis also is a finalist for the Nagurski Trophy, Lombardi Award and Butkus Award. Last week, he was named Big Ten defensive player of the year.
A Lott winner will be named December 9th.
BOECKMAN - ROBISKIE - WELLS ON MAXWELL LIST
(7/1/2008)
The initial list of 75 names for the 2008 Maxwell Award was published today. From the Buckeye roster we can find quarterback Todd Boeckman, wide receiver Brian Robiskie, and running back Chris Wells among the candidates. The Maxwell Award has been presented to the outstanding collegiate football player in America since 1937.
Semifinalists for the Maxwell Award will be announced in November and three finalists for the award will be announced November 25. The winner of the 2008 Maxwell Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show in December. The formal presentation of this award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala hosted by Harrah’s Entertainment Atlantic City March 6, 2009.
The watch list candidates have been chosen by the Maxwell Football Club’s Selection Committee. All members of the Maxwell Football Club, NCAA sports information directors, head coaches and selected national media are eligible to vote for these awards.
Previous winners of this award from Ohio State include Howard 'Hopalong' Cassady (1955), Bob Ferguson (1961), Archie Griffin (1975) and Eddie George (1995). Navy also has four winners, only Penn State (7) and Notre Dame (6) have more than four.
CORDLE STARTS SEASON AS RIMINGTON CANDIDATE
(5/7/2008)
The Rimington Trophy committee has released its 2008 Spring Watch List. Among the list of 44 players on the spring watch list is Buckeye center Jim Cordle. The list also includes two finalists from the 2007 Watch List, as well as the 2007 winner of the Rimington Trophy, Arkansas’ Jonathan Luigs.
The winner will be honored at Rimington Trophy Presentation banquet at the Rococo Theater in Lincoln, Nebraska, on January 17, 2009. Rimington, the award's namesake, was a consensus first-team All-America center at Nebraska in 1981 and 1982, during which time he became the John Outland Trophy's only double winner as the nation's finest college interior lineman.
Ohio State
Award News
2007
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LAURINAITIS-JENKINS-FREEMAN ON NAGURSKI WATCH
(5/12/2008)
The Football Writers Association of America has announced the Watch List for the 2008 Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which is awarded to the best defensive player in college football and sponsored by the Charlotte Touchdown Club. Three Buckeyes, James Laurinaitis, Malcolm Jenkins and Marcus Freeman are on the list of 88 candidates on the initial watch list. The watch list was developed by the FWAA All-America committee with the help of the schools and conferences.
The Charlotte Touchdown Club will hold the 2008 banquet on Sunday, December 7th at the Westin Hotel in Charlotte. For the eighth straight season, the FWAA will also pick a Bronko Nagurski Defensive Player of the Week beginning with games on Aug. 30 and running through the middle of November. And a Bronko Nagurski Legends Award winner will also be selected from the FWAA's 1967 All-America team.
Laurinaitis won the award in 2006 and was a finalist last season.
LAURINAITIS - FREEMAN - JENKINS ON
BEDNARIK WATCH LIST
(7/1/2008)
The list of preseason candidates for the 2008 Bednarik Award was released today. As with other watch lists, OSU's linebackers James Laurinaitis and Marcus Freeman, and defensive back Malcolm Jenkins are among the nominees. The Chuck Bednarik Award has been presented since 1995.
Semifinalists for the award will be announced in November and three finalists for the award will be announced November 25. The winner of the 2008 award will be announced on the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show in December. The formal presentation will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala hosted by Harrah’s Entertainment Atlantic City March 6, 2009.
Although Ohio State has never had a winner of this award, 7 of the previous 13 winners have come from the Big Ten.
