Jones aims for rare Outland repeat

2012 major awards watch lists

DALLAS – The 2012 Outland Trophy watch list was released Thursday with a potential line stars who could win the award that goes to the best interior lineman in college football. The award is selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

Senior Barrett Jones from defending national champion Alabama heads a list of 71 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. Every Football Bowl Subdivision conference, along with independents BYU and Notre Dame, had at least one player on the list.

The 6-5, 302-pound Jones, who has switched from offensive tackle to center, aims to become only the second player to win back-to-back Outland Trophies. Nebraska center Dave Rimington is the only player to pull off the double in 1981-82.

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 select the winner by individual ballot.

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 20th century, will be announced on ESPNU College Football Awards Show on Dec. 6.

The Outland Trophy presentation banquet will be held on Jan. 10 in Omaha, Neb.