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July is the final month without a college football game until February. Although it’s a slow time of the year, one thing this month signifies is the arrival of watchlist season. From the Davey O’Brien Award to the Lombardi Award, preseason watchlists suddenly drop at an expeditious pace. Each one contains a litany of names, and typically, at least one MAC player is present on any given watchlist.
Below we have documented a complete list of MAC players whose names adorn preseason watchlists recognized by the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) for 2022:
Maxwell Award
Release date: July 18
Who wins this award? “The Maxwell Award is presented to the best player in college football.”
MAC selections:
- Lew Nichols, RB, Central Michigan (So.)
- Hassan Beydoun, WR, Eastern Michigan (Sr.)
- Marquez Cooper, RB, Kent State (Jr.)
- Brett Gabbert, QB, Miami (Jr.)
- Dequan Finn, QB, Toledo (So.)
- Sean Tyler, RB, Western Michigan (Jr.)
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Davey O’Brien Award
Release date: July 19
Who wins this award? “The Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award is presented annually to the nation’s best college quarterback and is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award.”
MAC selections:
- Brett Gabbert, QB, Miami (Jr.)
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Doak Walker Award
Release date: July 20
Who wins this award? “The prestigious Doak Walker Award was created in 1989 to recognize the nation’s premier running back for his accomplishments on the field, achievement in the classroom and citizenship in the community.”
MAC selections:
- Lew Nichols, RB, Central Michigan (So.)
- Samson Evans, RB, Eastern Michigan (Jr.)
- Antario Brown, RB, Northern Illinois (So.)
- Harrison Waylee, RB, Northern Illinois (So.)
- Sean Tyler, RB, Western Michigan (Jr.)
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Biletnikoff Award
Release date: July 21
MAC selections:
- Jayshon Jackson, WR, Ball State (Sr.)
- Quian Williams, WR, Buffalo (Sr.)
- Hassan Beydoun, WR, Eastern Michigan (Sr.)
- Dante Cephas, WR, Kent State (Jr.)
- Trayvon Rudolph, WR, Northern Illinois (So.)
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John Mackey Award
Release date: July 22
Who wins this award? “Given annually to the most outstanding collegiate tight end, the award recipient is selected by vote of the John Mackey Award Selection Committee.”
MAC selections:
- Christian Sims, TE, Bowling Green (Sr.)
- Kris Leach, TE, Kent State (Sr.)
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Rimington Trophy
Release date: July 22
Who wins this award? “... awarded to Division I-A college football’s most outstanding center.”
MAC selections:
- Jacob Gideon, C, Western Michigan (So.)
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Butkus Award
Release date: July 25
MAC selections:
- Darren Anders, ILB, Bowling Green (Sr.)
- James Patterson, ILB, Buffalo (Sr.)
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Jim Thorpe Award
Release date: July 25
Who wins this award? “Presented to the nation’s best defensive back in college football.”
MAC selections:
- Jordan Anderson, FS, Bowling Green (Sr.)
- C.J. Brown, SS, Northern Illinois (So.)
- Dorian Jackson, CB, Western Michigan (Sr.)
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Outland Trophy
Release date: July 26
Who wins this award? “Presented to the nation’s best interior lineman... Only interior linemen on offense or defense are eligible for the award; ends are not eligible.”
MAC selections:
- Daymond Williams, DT, Buffalo (Sr.)
- Sidy Sow, G, Eastern Michigan (Sr.)
- Nolan Potter, OT, Northern Illinois (Jr.)
- Desjuan Johnson, DT, Toledo (Sr.)
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Nagurski Trophy
Release date: July 26
Who wins this award? “Created in 1993 by the Football Writers Association of America, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy is awarded to the best defensive player in college football and is presented by the Charlotte Touchdown Club.”
MAC selections:
- Darren Anders, ILB, Bowling Green (Sr.)
- James Patterson, ILB, Buffalo (Sr.)
- C.J. Brown, SS, Northern Illinois (So.)
- Jamal Hines, OLB, Toledo (Sr.)
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Lou Groza Award
Release date: July 27
MAC selections:
- John Richardson, K, Northern Illinois (Jr.)
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Ray Guy Award
Release date: July 27
Who wins this award? “The Ray Guy Award - named for football’s premier punter - honors the nation’s best collegiate punter.”
MAC selections:
- Luke Elzinga, P, Central Michigan (So.)
- Dom Dzioban, P, Miami (OH) (So.)
- Nick Mihalic, P, Western Michigan (Sr.)
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Paul Hornung Award
Release date: July 28
Who wins this award? “The mission of the Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse is to recognize and reward versatile, high-level performers in major college football.”
MAC selections:
- Ron Cook Jr., RB, Buffalo (Sr.)
- Hassan Beydoun, WR, Eastern Michigan (Sr.)
- Jalen Walker, WR, Miami (OH) (Sr.)
- Trayvon Rudolph, WR, Northern Illinois (So.)
- Devin Maddox, WR, Toledo (Jr.)
- Sean Tyler, RB, Western Michigan (Jr.)
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Wuerffel Trophy
Release date: July 28
Who wins this award? “Established in 2005, The Wuerffel Trophy honors college football athletes who are serving others, while also achieving greatness on the football field and in the classroom.”
MAC selections:
- Brandon Martin, ILB, Ball State (Sr.)
- Matt McDonald, QB, Bowling Green (Sr.)
- Austin Osborne, WR, Bowling Green (Sr.)
- Max Michel, DE, Buffalo (Sr.)
- Tariq Speights, ILB, Eastern Michigan (Sr.)
- Isaac Vance, WR, Kent State (Sr.)
- Nick Rattin, ILB, Northern Illinois (Jr.)
- Mitchell Berg, OT, Toledo (Sr.)
- Boone Bonnema, ILB, Western Michigan (So.)
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Walter Camp Award
Release date: July 29
Who wins this award? “Player of the year... voted on by the 130 NCAA Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors.”
MAC selections:
- Lew Nichols, RB, Central Michigan (So.)
- Dante Cephas, WR, Kent State (Jr.)
- Brett Gabbert, QB, Miami (Jr.)
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Chuck Bednarik Award
Release date: August 1
Who wins this award? “The Chuck Bednarik Award is presented to the best defensive player in college football (presented by the Maxwell Football Club).”
- Darren Anders, ILB, Bowling Green (Sr.)
- James Patterson, ILB, Buffalo (Sr.)
- Jose Ramirez, DE, Eastern Michigan (Jr.)
- C.J. Brown, SS, Northern Illinois (So.)
- Jamal Hines, OLB, Toledo (Sr.)
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Total Appearances
By player:
- Darren Anders, ILB, Bowling Green (Sr.) — 3
- Hassan Beydoun, WR, Eastern Michigan (Sr.) — 3
- C.J. Brown, SS, Northern Illinois (So.) — 3
- Brett Gabbert, QB, Miami (Jr.) — 3
- Lew Nichols, RB, Central Michigan (So.) — 3
- James Patterson, ILB, Buffalo (Sr.) — 3
- Sean Tyler, RB, Western Michigan (Jr.) — 3
- Dante Cephas, WR, Kent State (Jr.) — 2
- Jamal Hines, OLB, Toledo (Sr.) — 2
- Trayvon Rudolph, WR, Northern Illinois (So.) — 2
- Jordan Anderson, FS, Bowling Green (Sr.) — 1
- Mitchell Berg, OT, Toledo (Sr.) — 1
- Boone Bonnema, ILB, Western Michigan (So.) — 1
- Antario Brown, RB, Northern Illinois (So.) — 1
- Ron Cook Jr., RB, Buffalo (Sr.) — 1
- Marquez Cooper, RB, Kent State (Jr.) — 1
- Dom Dzioban, P, Miami (OH) (So.) — 1
- Luke Elzinga, P, Central Michigan (So.) — 1
- Samson Evans, RB, Eastern Michigan (Jr.) — 1
- Dequan Finn, QB, Toledo (So.) — 1
- Jacob Gideon, C, Western Michigan (So.) — 1
- Dorian Jackson, CB, Western Michigan (Sr.) — 1
- Jayshon Jackson, WR, Ball State (Sr.) — 1
- Desjuan Johnson, DT, Toledo (Sr.) — 1
- Kris Leach, TE, Kent State (Sr.) — 1
- Devin Maddox, WR, Toledo (Jr.) — 1
- Brandon Martin, ILB, Ball State (Sr.) — 1
- Matt McDonald, QB, Bowling Green (Sr.) — 1
- Max Michel, DE, Buffalo (Sr.) — 1
- Nick Mihalic, P, Western Michigan (Sr.) — 1
- Austin Osborne, WR, Bowling Green (Sr.) — 1
- Nolan Potter, OT, Northern Illinois (Jr.) — 1
- Jose Ramirez, DE, Eastern Michigan (Jr.) — 1
- Nick Rattin, ILB, Northern Illinois (Jr.) — 1
- John Richardson, K, Northern Illinois (Jr.) — 1
- Sidy Sow, G, Eastern Michigan (Sr.) — 1
- Christian Sims, TE, Bowling Green (Sr.) — 1
- Tariq Speights, ILB, Eastern Michigan (Sr.) — 1
- Isaac Vance, WR, Kent State (Sr.) — 1
- Jalen Walker, WR, Miami (OH) (Sr.) — 1
- Harrison Waylee, RB, Northern Illinois (So.) — 1
- Daymond Williams, DT, Buffalo (Sr.) — 1
- Quian Williams, WR, Buffalo (Sr.) — 1
By school:
- Northern Illinois — 10
- Bowling Green — 7
- Buffalo — 7
- Eastern Michigan — 7
- Western Michigan — 7
- Toledo — 6
- Kent State — 5
- Miami (OH) — 5
- Central Michigan — 4
- Ball State — 2
- Akron — 0
- Ohio — 0
The winners of the aforementioned awards will be announced in November and December. Appearing on a preseason watchlist is not a prerequisite for winning an award.
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