Pair of Notre Dame football stars make the watch list for Outland Trophy

As Notre Dame football prepares for its fall camp and regular season, this week is all about releasing award watch lists. So far, there have been three watch lists announced and the Irish have had at least one player on all of them.

First came Riley Leonard on the Maxwell Award Watch List. Then it was time to move to the defensive side of the ball and the Nagurski Award. The Irish saw both Xavier Watts and Howard Cross III put on the list.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Outland Trophy was released and once again, there were two Notre Dame football stars featured prominently. This list also included Howard Cross III and saw a new addition in the form of Rylie Mills.

Pair of Notre Dame football stars make the watch list for Outland Trophy

One of the most interesting aspects of the name on the Outland Trophy watch list is that no offensive lineman from South Bend made it. The Outland is unique because it doesn’t care which side of the ball players are on.

The award honors simply the best lineman in the country. That means that the list can either be offensive or defensive line. And it’s why two men in the defensive trenches are competing with guys that will be trying to block them this season.

Should Cross or Mills manage to take home the award if would be the first time in nearly 50 years. 

Former Notre Dame football offensive tackle Joe Alt was a finalist for the Outland Trophy last season, but it was given to Texas defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat. Three Notre Dame players have previously won the award: George Connor (1946), Bill Fischer (1948) and Ross Browner (1976). If one were to put money on who might win it this year, Cross would have to be right at the top of the list.