Notre Dame Football: Bars, Mustipher And Tillery Make Outland Watch List
By J.P. Scott
Notre Dame football landed three players on the Outland Trophy watch list today.
The Football Writers Association of America has announced the preseason watch list for the 2018 Outland Trophy presented by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. The list included three Notre Dame players: Alex Bar, Sam Mustipher and Jerry Tillery.
According to the Football Writers Association of America:
“The Outland Trophy, now in its 73rd year, is the third-oldest major college football award. Created in 1946 when Dr. John Outland presented the FWAA with a financial contribution to initiate the award, the Outland Trophy has been given to the best interior lineman in college football ever since. Dr. Outland, an All-American at the University of Pennsylvania in the late 1890s, eventually took up practice in Kansas City, Mo. An avid outdoorsman, Dr. Outland believed linemen did not get the credit they deserved and wanted an award to recognize them.”
Notre Dame getting three players on the watch list is a testament to the strides Brian Kelly has made over the years to upgrade the talent in the trenches.
Guard Alex Bars is expected to be a key cog on the unit and play an instrumental role in eliminating any would-be dropoff due to the departure of two top-ten NFL Draft picks on the offensive line.
Center Sam Mustipher will lead the offensive line on the field and in the locker room. Everything the Irish do on offense relies heavily on both his performance and communication with his fellow lineman. He landed on the Rimington Award (given to the nation’s top center) watch list last week.
Jerry Tillery finds himself on the Outland Trophy watch list on the same day that he also landed on the Nagurski Award watch list. If he can live up to the expectations and accolades bestowed upon him this offseason, both he and the Notre Dame football team as a whole could have a magical season.
The Outland Trophy winner is chosen from three finalists who are a part of the annual FWAA All-America Team.
The recipient of the 73rd Outland Trophy will be announced during ESPN’s The Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 6, live from the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.
Next: 3 Irish Make Nagurski List
The official presentation to the winner will be made at the Werner Enterprises Outland Trophy Awards Dinner produced by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee on Jan. 9, 2019.