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It’s that time of the summer again. That incredibly mundane period right after media days and before the start of camp. When a whole week is dedicated to debating LSU’s new locker room and the ethics of dropping 28 million on a new football facility, well, you could say it’s a dry time in college sports.
But I know you all are probably sick of all that locker room talk by now so we will be steering clear of all that in today’s gumbo.
What we will be focusing on are all of the college football awards watch lists. With so many different lists and each list being so huge, it can be troubling to keep track of all of them. So in today’s gumbo I will whip up all of the links of which LSU players made what list as well as any other preseason honors.
We start with the Biletnikoff award, which is handed out annually to the best wide receiver in college football. LSU’s Justin Jefferson made the list. Jefferson broke out last season, and although a bit inconsistent at times he was a joy to watch and few wideouts coming back in 2019 can take the top off a defense like Jefferson.
Next we move onto the Butkus list. You can probably infer from the name that we are talking about linebackers and we are as LSU landed FOUR LB’s on this one list. Micheal Divinity, Jacob Phillips, K’Lavon Chaisson, and Patrick Queen all made the list. That is LSU’s whole group of starting linebackers all on one list. Devin White won this award last year.
Phillips and Chaisson are two guys that LSU fans have been itching to see since the end of last year. Dave Aranda will certainly be able to draw up some awesome blitz combos with these two.
Running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire found himself on the Paul Hornung award watch list. This award is given to the most versatile player in the country. Edwards-Helaire totaled 754 yards from scrimmage last year and was effective as a return man as well. Odell Beckham Jr. took home this award in 2013.
Edwards-Helaire also made the Maxwell list where he was joined by Joe Burrow. This is one of the bigger awards in the country as it is given to the best overall player. Burrow also made the Davey O’Brein watch list which is handed out to the best QB in the country.
I must say, and I know this has been hammered home when LSU has been talked about in recent years, but I don’t know how an LSU fan can see that an LSU QB is on the O’Brien watch list and not smile. After all of the troubles at that position, Mettenberger’s 2013 aside, LSU finally has high expectations under center.
Moving on to the Thorpe award watch list, where LSU usually has a noticeable presence as it honors the best DB in the country. Grant Delpit was LSU’s lone representative. I think most people would say that Kristian Fulton was a HUGE snub from this list, so much so that it should be a crime.
Delpit continued adding to his total as he made the Walter Camp Award watch list. This award is given to the best player in college football and is voted on by head coaches and SIDs around the country.
And in off the field awards, LSU long-snapper Balke Ferguson was put on the Wuerffel Trophy watch list, an award given to college football’s top community servant.
To wrap things up it is also worth pointing out that eight Tigers were named to All-SEC preseason teams including Joe Burrow.
As is the case most years, there is no shortage of talent on this team. With talent comes expectations. You also may have noticed that no offensive lineman were put on a watch list, although Lloyd Cushenberry and Damien Lewis were named to the preseason All-SEC teams. Coach O has his QB, he has his staff, now its time to go to work.
And one last note, in case you missed it, LSU landed a huge recruit (literally and figuratively) on Friday night as stud 2020 defensive lineman and Baton Rouge native Jaquelin Roy committed to LSU.