CFB award watchlists: BYU's Bywater, Utah's Bishop eyed for Bednarik

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SALT LAKE CITY — The college football season is around the corner, and with that comes the release of the various preseason watchlists for the numerous awards given to players and coaches in the sports.

The preseason watchlists are released over a two-week period (OK, technically just over two weeks), beginning with the Maxwell Award on July 31 and going through Aug. 14. A full schedule is found below:

July 31: Maxwell Award (college player of the year)
Aug. 1: Outland Trophy (interior lineman); Bronko Nagurski Trophy (defensive player)
Aug. 2: Lou Groza Award (placekicker); Ray Guy Award (punter)
Aug. 3: Paul Hornung Award (most versatile); Wuerffel Trophy (community service)
Aug. 4: Mackey Award (tight end); Rimington Trophy (nation's premier center)
Aug. 7: Biletnikoff Award (receiver)
Aug. 8: Davey O'Brien Award (quarterback)
Aug. 9: Doak Walker Award (running back)
Aug. 10: Butkus Award (linebacker); Jim Thorpe Award (defensive back)
Aug. 11: Walter Camp Award (most outstanding player)
Aug. 14: Bednarik Award (defensive player of the year)

The following is a comprehensive list of the players from BYU, Utah and Utah State that have been named to the various awards. This will be updated each day that a local athlete is named to one of the watchlists.

Monday, 03:12 pm

Ben Bywater, Cole Bishop named to Bednarik Award watchlist

BYU linebacker Ben Bywater and Utah safety Cole Bishop were among the 85 players named to the Chuck Bednarik Award preseason watchlist, given annually to college football's most outstanding defensive player, as announced Monday by the Maxwell Football Club.Bywater, who was last year's New Mexico Bowl MVP, led the Cougars in tackles as a sophomore with 98. The 6-foot-3, 235-pound junior who prepped at Olympus High became the first BYU player since NFL All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner to lead the Cougars in tackles in back-to-back season, and also finished the 2022 season with four tackles for loss, a sack, three interceptions and two pass breakups.It's the third preseason watchlist honor for Bishop, who previously landed on the Jim Thorpe and Bronko Nagurski Award watchlists. The Peachtree City, Georgia, native played in 24 games with 19 starts in his career with the Utes, entering the 2023 season second among Pac-12 defensive backs with 5.7 tackles per game.The two-time All-Pac-12 honoree led the team with 83 tackles in 2022 to go along with 6.0 tackles, 1.5 sacks, four passes defended and a fumble recovery.

Thursday, 10:48 am

BYU's Bywater, Utah's Reid put on Butkus Award watch

Two players from the state of Utah were candidates for the annual Butkus Award, as announced Thursday by the Butkus Foundation.BYU linebacker Ben Bywater and Utah's Karene Reid were among the 51 preseason honorees named to the watchlist for the award given to the top linebacker in college football. The 51 nominees is a nod to the No. 51 worn by the legendary Dick Butkus, who was named by NFL Films as the greatest defensive player in football history.Bywater, a 6-foot-3, 235-pound junior who prepped at Olympus High, posted a team-high 98 tackles to lead BYU as a sophomore, becoming first player to lead the Cougars in tackles in back-to-back seasons since current San Francisco 49er star Fred Warner in 2016-17. He also recorded four tackles-for-loss, a sack, three interceptions and two pass breakups during the 2022 season.Reid, a 6-foot-, 227-pound junior from American Fork who prepped at Timpview, walked on to the team in 2021 and eventually earned All-Pac-12 honors in 2022 after starting in all 14 games en route to the Utes' second-straight conference championship.Reid led all Utah linebackers a year ago with 72 tackles, including 9.5 tackles for loss and five sacks, as well as five passes defended, an interception and a forced fumble.Additionally, former Provo High star linebacker Mason Cobb, who recently transferred from Oklahoma State to USC, was among the 51-player candidate pool.Semifinalists for the 2022 Butkus Award are expected to be named on Oct. 30, with the finalists announced on Nov. 20.

BUTKUS AWARD CANDIDATE pic.twitter.com/PNz3JFepvs

— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) August 10, 2023

Wednesday, 11:38 am

BYU transfer Aidan Robbins named to Doak Walker Award watchlist

BYU running back Aidan Robbins was one of 75 running backs named to the Doak Walker Award watchlist, the award given annually to college football's top running back, as announced Wednesday by the PwC SMU Athletic Forum.The 6-foot-3, 240-pound junior from Louisville, Kentucky, played the 2022 season at UNLV, where he led the Rebels with 1,011 yards and nine touchdowns on 209 carries before transferring to BYU and pursuing an MBA from the Marriott School of Business. Prior to his time in Las Vegas, Robbins appeared in three games over two seasons at Louisville.Robbins, who is the only Doak Walker Award candidate from a Utah-based institution, was previously named to the prestigious Maxwell Award watch list, given annually to college football's player of the year. He was also named a Preseason All-Big 12 first-team pick by Phil Steele Magazine and Athlon Sports Preseason All-Big 12 second team.The athletic forum's board of directors will name 10 semifinalists in November, and will trim the list to three finalists before casting a vote in December.Former BYU running back Luke Staley won the Doak Walker Award in 2001 after rushing for 1,582 yards and 28 touchdowns.

DOAK WALKER AWARD CANDIDATE@theaidanrobbins 🤝 @DoakWalkerAward pic.twitter.com/BIw1CIk7fJ

— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) August 9, 2023

Monday, 05:58 pm

In-state quartet headlines 91-player Outland Trophy watchlist

A trio of Utah linemen and another from BYU were among the 91 nominees named to the 2023 Outland Trophy watchlist, the Football Writers Association of America announced Monday.Utah defensive tackle Junior Tafuna, Utah guard Keaton Bills and Utah tackle Sataoa Laumea joined BYU left tackle Kingsley Suamataia on the annual preseason list honoring the country's top interior linemen in the Football Bowl Subdivision.Tafuna is the only defensive tackle nominated from the dozen players nominated from the Pac-12, which is second only to the SEC. The 6-foot-3, 310-pound Taylorsville native was named Pac-12 freshman defensive player of the year in 2021 and Pac-12 second-team honors last year after totaling 27 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, a sack and an interception in 14 games, all starts, for the Utes.Suamataia was among the 10 players from the Big 12 Conference named to the watchlist, including one from each of the four new schools in BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF.Suamataia, a 6-foot-6, 315-pound sophomore from Orem, was previously named to the College Football News preseason All-America second team, in addition to the Athlon Sports All-Big 12 third team and Preseason All-Big 12 fourth team by Phil Steele Magazine.

Friday, 10:10 am

BYU's Pay among 40 centers on Rimington Trophy watchlist

BYU center Connor Pay was one of 40 centers named to the Rimington Trophy watchlist, the organization announced Friday.The former starting right guard as a freshman in 2020, Pay was recently named to the preseason All-Big 12 third team by Pro Football Focus and Athlon Sports preseason All-Big 12 fourth team. The 6-foot-5, 305-pound sophomore started 12-of-13 games in 2022 and also holds a 3.78 GPA in entrepreneurial management.Pay, who prepped at Lone Peak High School, is the only center from a Utah-based school on the watchlist and one of eight from the Big 12.The Rimington Trophy, given to the nation's most outstanding center annually, is named after Dave Rimington, a two-time Consensus All-America center at Nebraska in 1981-82. As a junior and senior, Rimington became the only two-time winner of the Outland Trophy, which is presented annually to college football's top interior lineman.The award also honors the Boomer Esiason Foundation, raising over $5 million for the patient advocacy leader for the cystic fibrosis community since the award's inception.

RIMINGTON TROPHY WATCH LIST@cpay70 🤝 @rimingtontrophy pic.twitter.com/jVdCa3jpdR

— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) August 4, 2023

Wednesday, 09:32 am

Utah State's Stephen Kotsanlee, BYU's Ryan Rehkow added to Ray Guy watchlist

The first Utah State player to be named to a preseason watchlist is none other than punter Stephen Kotsanlee, who was added to the Ray Guy Award watchlist Wednesday.Kotsanlee, who is originally from Melbourne, Australia, returns to the Aggies after a 2022 season in which he had 67 punts for an average of 43.4 yards per punt, the fourth-best average in the Mountain West. His career average is 42.5 yards per punt.The Aggies punter had 24 punts downed inside the 20-yard line and 22 that were 50 yards or more in a season where he had the school's sixth-best punt average all time.

2023 @RayGuyAward Preseason Watchlist

🤘 @SKotsy17 🤘

📰 https://t.co/JxTnhlumXe pic.twitter.com/j33zTsNMZp

— USU Football (@USUFootball) August 2, 2023BYU punter Ryan Rehkow was also added to the preseason watchlist, which is his third consecutive year with the preseason honor. Rehkow finished last season with an average of 46.2 yards per punt.

RAY GUY AWARD WATCH LIST@r_rehkow24 🤝 @RayGuyAward pic.twitter.com/5LwipVeyVA

— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) August 2, 2023

Tuesday, 12:28 pm

Utah's Tafuna, Bishop named to Bronko Nagurski Trophy watchlist

Utah safety Cole Bishop and defensive tackle Junior Tafuna were among the 96 defensive players named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watchlist, the organization announced Tuesday.Utah was one of 14 schools with multiple nominees for the award, which is given annually to college football's best defensive player.Bishop, a two-time All-Pac-12 selection who enters the season ranked second among active secondary players in the conference with 5.7 tackles per game, has played in 24 career games with 19 starts. The native of Peachtree City, Georgia led the team in tackles in 2022 with 83 stops including six tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.Tafuna earned All-Pac-12 second-team honors in 2022 after contributing 27 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, a sack, an interception, two quarterback hurries and a pass breakup. The former Pac-12 freshman defensive player of the year from Taylorsville has started 25 of the 27 games he's played in his career.

Monday, 12:03 pm

BYU's Riggs named to top long snapper watchlist

BYU long snapper Austin Riggs was one of 25 players named to the Patrick Mannelly Award watchlist, as announced Monday by the organization.The junior from Eagle, Idaho, appeared in 28 games for the Cougars over the last three seasons, earning a starting role on punt team as a freshman in 2020 and adding field goal and PAT duties a year later while helping the Cougars to a 10-3 record and No. 19 final ranking in 2021.The recipient of the Patrick Mannelly Award is determined annually by a committee of former NFL long snappers, punters, kickers, special teams coaches, snapping instructors, NFL player agents and sportswriters. The award benefits Bernie's Book Bank, a nonprofit organization in Lake Bluff, Illinois.Semifinalists will be announced Nov. 13, with the list narrowed to three finalists Nov. 27 before being announced in a live ceremony Dec. 9 in Lake Bluff.

𝐏𝐀𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐊 𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐘 𝐀𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐖𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇 𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓@austinrriggs 🤝 @MannellyAward pic.twitter.com/GzimcnFvcx

— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) July 31, 2023

Monday, 10:18 am

Utah's Cam Rising and BYU's Kedon Slovis, Aidan Robbins named to Maxwell Award

The first preseason watchlist of the season, the Maxwell Award, was released Monday, and a few familiar faces were included in the 84-man list.BYU transfer quarterback Kedon Slovis and transfer running back Aidan Robbins, and Utah quarterback Cam Rising were included in the watchlist for the award given to the college player of the year.Slovis has had quite the journey before his final destination at BYU, where he'll lead the Cougars into their first season in the Big 12. After a three-year career at USC, where Slovis was eventually named starter, he transferred to Pittsburgh for a season before joining BYU.Slovis finished his one-year stint at Pitt throwing for 2,391 yards and 10 touchdowns with nine interceptions. He finished with a 58.4% completion percentage at Pitt, which was lower than his two previous seasons at USC. The veteran quarterback hopes to return to form with the Cougars.Robbins' journey to BYU followed a similar path as Slovis' and enters his senior year after a one-year stint at UNLV following two years at Louisville. While at UNLV, Robbins rushed for 1,011 yards and nine touchdowns on 209 carries.Utah's Rising enters his senior season as a two-time Pac-12 champion, with hopes of a third. Though Rising has proven to be a leader for Utah, there remains questions about his return this season after he suffered an ACL injury in January.Rising finished his junior campaign throwing for 3,034 yards and 26 touchdowns with eight interceptions, and completed 64.7% of his passes to lift Utah to its second consecutive Rose Bowl appearance. The question about his recovery remains of top concern for the Utes.

CFB award watchlists: BYU's Bywater, Utah's Bishop eyed for Bednarik

By Josh Furlong and Sean Walker, KSL.com | Updated - Aug. 14, 2023 at 10:53 p.m. | Posted - July 31, 2023 at 10:36 a.m.

Ben Bywater, Cole Bishop named to Bednarik Award watchlist

BYU's Bywater, Utah's Reid put on Butkus Award watch

BYU transfer Aidan Robbins named to Doak Walker Award watchlist

In-state quartet headlines 91-player Outland Trophy watchlist

BYU's Pay among 40 centers on Rimington Trophy watchlist

Utah State's Stephen Kotsanlee, BYU's Ryan Rehkow added to Ray Guy watchlist

Utah's Tafuna, Bishop named to Bronko Nagurski Trophy watchlist

BYU's Riggs named to top long snapper watchlist

Utah's Cam Rising and BYU's Kedon Slovis, Aidan Robbins named to Maxwell Award

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CFB award watchlists: BYU's Bywater, Utah's Bishop eyed for Bednarik

By Josh Furlong and Sean Walker, KSL.com | Updated - Aug. 14, 2023 at 10:53 p.m. | Posted - July 31, 2023 at 10:36 a.m.

Ben Bywater, Cole Bishop named to Bednarik Award watchlist

BYU's Bywater, Utah's Reid put on Butkus Award watch

BYU transfer Aidan Robbins named to Doak Walker Award watchlist

In-state quartet headlines 91-player Outland Trophy watchlist

BYU's Pay among 40 centers on Rimington Trophy watchlist

Utah State's Stephen Kotsanlee, BYU's Ryan Rehkow added to Ray Guy watchlist

Utah's Tafuna, Bishop named to Bronko Nagurski Trophy watchlist

BYU's Riggs named to top long snapper watchlist

Utah's Cam Rising and BYU's Kedon Slovis, Aidan Robbins named to Maxwell Award

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Collin Klein hired as Kansas State coach after Chris Klieman's retirement

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Collin Klein hired as Kansas State coach after Chris Klieman's retirement

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