Slap the Sign
Fansided

Notre Dame Football: 2019 Preseason Watch List Recap

By Connor McJunkin

SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 08: Jalen Elliott #21 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates his first half interception with Alohi Gilman #11 against the Ball State Cardinals at Notre Dame Stadium on September 8, 2018 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 08: Jalen Elliott #21 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates his first half interception with Alohi Gilman #11 against the Ball State Cardinals at Notre Dame Stadium on September 8, 2018 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The 2019 National College Football Awards Association has released all of their preseason watch lists for the upcoming season. Let’s take a look at the Notre Dame football players who landed on the radar for these prestigious awards.

It’s hard to believe the last time we watch Notre Dame football play was close to eight months ago. The off-season certainly hasn’t flown by, but somehow we are less than five weeks from kickoff vs Louisville on Monday, September 2.

Though we’re still a month out from the season, the National College Football Awards Association was busy recently, as they released their 16 watch lists over the previous two weeks. These awards are considered some of the most prestigious in all of college football, and there are a total of 25 awards that are given out by the association at the end of the season.

One important aspect to note as we recap the Golden Domers who found themselves on these lists — just because a player didn’t make the preseason watch for an award doesn’t automatically disqualify them from winning the award at the conclusion of the season.

With that out of the way, let’s take a look at the handful of Irish players who have been recognized as some of the most talented players at their position — and overall — in the country.

Bednarik Award (Presented to the college defensive player of the year by the Maxwell Football Club)

  • DE Khalid Kareem
  • DE Julian Okwara

The last time Notre Dame had a player win the Bednarik Award was in 2012 when LB Manti Te’o took home the honors.

Bronko Nagurski Trophy (Presented to the nation’s most outstanding defensive player by the Charlotte Touchdown Club)

  • DB Alohi Gilman
  • DE Khalid Kareem
  • DE Julian Okwara

Manti Te’o was the last Notre Dame player to win this award as well, when he was deemed the nation’s best defensive player in 2012.

Davey O’Brien Award (Presented to the nation’s best quarterback by the Davey O’Brien Foundation)

  • QB Ian Book

Doak Walker Award (Presented to the nation’s premier running back by the PwC SMU Athletic Forum)

  • RB Jafar Armstrong
  • RB Tony Jones Jr.

John Mackey Award (Presented to the nation’s most outstanding tight end by the Friends of John Mackey)

  • TE Cole Kmet

In 2012 Tyler Eifert took home this award after posting 50 catches, 685 yards, and 4 touchdowns.

Maxwell Award (Presented to the college player of the year by the Maxwell Football Club)

  • QB Ian Book

2012 was a good year for Manti Te’o, who was the last Irish player to win this award as well after his magical senior season.

Outland Trophy (Presented to the nation’s most outstanding interior lineman by the Football Writers Association of America in partnership with the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases)

  • OT Liam Eichenberg
  • OG Tommy Kraemer

Although this award can go to offensive and defensive lineman, it’s pretty surprising that given the rich Irish offensive line pedigree in recent years, the last Notre Dame player to win the Outland Trophy was defensive end Ross Browner in 1976.

Jim Thorpe Award (Presented to the nation’s best defensive back by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and Paycom)

  • DB Alohi Gilman

Rimington Trophy (Presented to the nation’s premier center by the Boomer Esiason Foundation)

  • C Jarrett Patterson

Walter Camp Award (Presented to the nation’s most outstanding player by the Walter Camp Football Foundation)

  • QB Ian Book

Te’o won just about every award besides the Heisman in 2012, as he was the last Irish player to take home the Walter Camp Award as well.

Wuerffel Trophy (Presented to the player who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement by the All Sports Association of Fort Walton Beach)

  • DB Jalen Elliott

You don’t have to dig too deep in the record books to find the last Notre Dame winner of this award as linebacker Drue Tranquill won this award last year.

In total, 16 Notre Dame players made the different preseason watch lists, and that only re-emphasizes the talent this year’s roster has. It’s not too surprising seeing most of the names on these lists, as these players are expected to have a huge impact this upcoming season.

Next. Fall camp to show an improved Ian Book. dark

Their success will greatly correlate to the Irish making a push to the CFP for a second consecutive year.

Home/Notre Dame Football