DALLAS (FWAA) – The prestigious 2012 Outland Trophy Watch List was released today with a galaxy of potential line stars who could win the award that goes to the best interior lineman in college football, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.
Senior Barrett Jones from defending national champion Alabama heads a list of 70 players, which includes only tackles, guards and centers on both sides of the ball. Of the players on the watch list, 18 defensive tackles occupied spots. The rest of the linemen were on offense.
The Outland Trophy winner is chosen from three finalists who are part of the FWAA All-America Team. The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the entire membership, selects the 25-man team and eventually the three Outland finalists to be named on Nov. 19. Committee members, then by individual ballot, select the winner.
The Outland Trophy, presented annually since 1946, is the third oldest award in major college football. The winner of the 67th Outland Trophy, named after the late John Outland, an All-America lineman at Penn and Kansas at the turn of the century, will be announced on The Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 6 on ESPN.
2012 OUTLAND TROPHY PRESEASON WATCH LIST (SEC ONLY)
Offensive Tackles (17)
Chris Faulk, LSU
D.J. Fluker, Alabama
Alex Hurst, LSU
Luke Joeckel, Texas A&M
Jake Matthews, Texas A&M
Centers (15)
T.J. Johnson, South Carolina
Barrett Jones, Alabama
Travis Swanson, Arkansas
Offensive Guards (20)
Alvin Bailey, Arkansas
Gabe Jackson, Mississippi State
Dallas Thomas, Tennessee
Larry Warford, Kentucky
Chance Warmack, Alabama
Defensive Tackles (18)
Josh Boyd, Mississippi State
Sharrif Floyd, Florida
John Jenkins, Georgia
Bennie Logan, LSU
Jesse Williams, Alabama
By conference (70): SEC (18), Big Ten (12), ACC (11), Big 12 (7), Pac-12 (7), Big East (4), Independents (3), Mountain West (3), WAC (2), Conference USA (1), MAC (1), Sun Belt (1).