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Yet another round of bragging rights. The inexorable unveiling of trophy "watch lists" has come and gone. I count a total of 13 major trophies that are handed out in all sorts of varying positions, some which overlap, as noted by some MAC players earning multiple nods on watch lists.
You can see that BGSU has the highest collection of mentions, with the stout but powerful Roosevelt Nix and the prolific runner Branden Oliver earning triple crowns. Here's the list below. I did it last year and by jove, it was so popular the first time we've brought it back.
School | Nominees | Mentions (Individuals) |
Bowling Green | TE Alex Bayer (Mackey) P Brian Schmiedebusch (Ray Guy) LB Dwayne Woods (Nagurski, Lombardi) RB Anthon Samuel (Doak Walker) DT Chris Jones (Lombardi) |
6 (5) |
Buffalo | RB Branden Oliver (Maxwell, Doak Walker, Walter Camp) LB Khalil Mack (Nagurski, Lombardi) |
5 (2) |
OHIO | PK Matt Weller (Groza) CB Travis Carrie (Thorpe) QB Tyler Tettleton (O'Brien) OL Eric Herman (Lombardi) |
4 |
Western Michigan | C Kevin Galeher (Rimington) S Johnnie Simon (Thorpe) QB Alex Carder (O'Brien, Walter Camp) |
4 (3) |
Kent State | DT Roosevelt Nix (Outland, Nagurski, Lombardi) OL Brian Winters (Lombardi) |
4 (2) |
Miami | CB Dayonne Nunley (Thorpe) WR Nick Harwell (Biletnikoff) |
2 |
Toledo | C Zac Kerin (Rimington, Lombardi) | 2 (1) |
Central Michigan | S Jahleel Addae (Thorpe) | 1 |
Northern Illinois | DE Sean Progar (Lombardi) | 1 |
Eastern Michigan | TE Garrett Hoskins (Mackey) | 1 |
Ball State | [crickets] | 0 |
Akron | [shrug] | 0 |
UMass | [welp] | 0 |
And your handy guide to what each award means:
Biletnikoff: Wide receiver
Doak Walker: Running Back
Groza: Kicker
Lombardi: Linemen (OL, DL, LB)
Mackey: Tight end
Maxwell: Outstanding player
Nagurski: Defense (any)
O'Brien: Quarterback
Outland: Offensive lineman
Ray Guy: Punter
Rimington: Center
Thorpe: Defensive back
Walter Camp: Overall
Now, are any of these players actually gonna win the award their being watched for? Other than Brian Schmiedebusch, who has already won the Ray Guy in my eyes? Probably not. They can add and subtract players throughout the season.