All of college football’s 2013 preseason watch lists have been released. A total of 12 Notre Dame players account for 24 spots on those 15 different lists. Louis Nix leads the way with spots on six different watch lists, followed by Stephon Tuitt, who is on five lists of his own. The preseason Maxwell and Bednarik watch lists are covered with Notre Dame defenders, a sign of elevated expectations for one of the most surprising units in the country last year. Not only are the two Irish defensive linemen on the short list for the Bednarik, given to college football’s defensive player of the year, they both were nominated for the Maxwell Award, given to college football’s player of the year. Manti Te’o won both the Maxwell and Bednarik Awards last season. Other Bednarik watch-listers are senior cornerback Bennett Jackson and senior outside linebacker Prince Shembo. Notre Dame is the only school in college football with four players featured on the Bednarik list. Alabama, Florida State, Ohio State and Stanford have three each.
Following is a quick recap of the Notre Dame players on those watch lists:
Bednarik Award (Defensive Player of the Year)
Irish Candidates: Cornerback Bennett Jackson, DE Stephon Tuitt, OLB Prince Shembo and NG Louis Nix
Maxwell Award (College Player of the Year)
Irish Candidates: Louis Nix and Stephon Tuitt
John Mackey Award (Most Outstanding Tight End)
Irish Candidates: Troy Niklas and Ben Koyack
Lou Groza Award (Top Place-Kicker)
Irish Candidate: Kyle Brindza
Bronko Nagurski Trophy (Most Outstanding Defensive Player)
Irish Candidates: Louis Nix and Stephon Tuitt
Outland Trophy (Most Outstanding Interior Lineman – Offense or Defense)
Irish Candidates: Louis Nix and OT Zack Martin
Butkus Award Most Outstanding Linebacker)
Irish Candidates: Prince Shembo, Carlo Calabrese and Dan Fox
Rotary Lombardi Award (Best Lineman or Linebacker)
Irish Candidates: Louis Nix, Prince Shembo, Stephon Tuitt and Zack Martin
Biletnikoff Award (Most Outstanding Wide Receiver)
Irish Candidates: DaVaris Daniels and T.J. Jones
Walter Camp Award (National Player of the Year)
Irish Candidates: Stephon Tuitt and Louis Nix
