Alabama Players On Preseason Award Watch Lists

Over the past week, the majority of the national awards released preseason watch lists, and Alabama players unsurprisingly garnered plenty of attention. Below is a description of each award and the Tide players to keep an eye on:

Bednarik Award, top defensive player: Jonathan Allen, Reuben Foster, Eddie Jackson, Tim Williams

Biletnikoff Award, top receiver: Gehrig Dieter, Calvin Ridley

Butkus Award, top linebacker: Ryan Anderson, Reuben Foster, Tim Williams

Davey O’Brien Award, best quarterback: none

Doak Walker, best running back: Damien Harris, Bo Scarbrough

Hornung Award, most versatile player: none

Lou Groza Award, top kicker: Adam Griffith

Mackey Award, best tight end: O.J. Howard

Maxwell Award, college football’s best player: O.J. Howard, Calvin Ridley

Nagurski award, defensive player of the year: Jonathan Allen, Reuben Foster, Marlon Humphrey, Eddie Jackson, Tim Williams

Outland Trophy, best interior lineman: Cam Robinson

Ray Guy Award, top punter: JK Scott

Rimington Trophy, top center: none

Walter Camp, player of the year: Eddie Jackson

Wuerffel Trophy, community service award: JK Scott, O.J. Howard

It’s great to see so many Tide players make the watch lists. Should Ross Pierschbacher nail down the center job as expected, he will likely get some attention for the Rimington both this year and next, and Alabama’s starting QB will get a look at the Davey O’Brien. Gehrig Dieter's name stands out alongside Ridley's on the Biletnikoff list - excited to see what type of contribution he will make this season.

It’s interesting that the Maxwell and Walter Camp awards, which are MVP awards akin to the Heisman, had no overlap on the Alabama roster with Ridley and Howard making the Maxwell list while only Jackson made the Walter Camp. Needless to say, these lists are fluid and we will keep an eye on them as the season goes along.