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The preseason awards watch lists are rolling in, and Big Ten players appear on all of them. You already know about the Walter Camp Player of the Year watch list, and here are new ones for the Maxwell Award, Bednarik Award and Biletnikoff Award. MAXWELL AWARD (nation's most outstanding player)
Big Ten players on the watch list ...
- Wisconsin RB John Clay
- Ohio State QB Terrelle Pryor
- Penn State RB Evan Royster
- Iowa QB Ricky Stanzi
- Wisconsin QB Scott Tolzien
Comment: The watch list only includes quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers, so this looks about right for the Big Ten. I'd still like to see defenders like Greg Jones, Adrian Clayborn and Cameron Heyward gain consideration for national Player of the Year awards like this one.
BEDNARIK AWARD (nation's top defensive player)
Big Ten players on the watch list ...
- Wisconsin LB Chris Borland
- Iowa DE Adrian Clayborn
- Penn State DE Jack Crawford
- Ohio State DL Cameron Heyward
- Ohio State LB Ross Homan
- Michigan State LB Greg Jones
- Purdue DE Ryan Kerrigan
- Iowa S Tyler Sash
- Wisconsin DE J.J. Watt
Comment: No complaints here. Jones, Kerrigan, Clayborn and Sash all were first-team All-Big Ten selections a year ago, while Heyward and Homan certainly could have been. Borland is the reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year, while both Crawford and Watt boast a ton of potential and should blossom this fall.
BILETNIKOFF AWARD (nation's top wide receiver)
Big Ten players on the watch list ...
- Indiana's Tandon Doss
- Iowa's Derrell Johnson-Koulianos
- Ohio State's DeVier Posey
- Michigan's Roy Roundtree
- Purdue's Keith Smith
- Wisconsin's Nick Toon
Comment: I would have added Iowa's Marvin McNutt for sure and possibly Ohio State's Dane Sanzenbacher to the list. Don't be surprised if a Michigan State wide receiver -- Keshawn Martin or Keith Nichol -- earns midseason consideration for the award.
All three awards select semifinalists in early or mid-November. The winners will be announced Dec. 9 on ESPN during the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards show.
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