6 players make watch lists for 9 awards

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6 Auburn players make watch lists for 9 awards

By Tom Green | tgreen@al.com

4 minutes

BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA - OCTOBER 26: Joe Burrow #9 of the LSU Tigers is sacked by K.J. Britt #33 of the Auburn Tigers during the first half at Tiger Stadium on October 26, 2019 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)Getty Images

Uncertainty still looms over the 2020 season as conference navigate what to do this fall amid the continued spread of the coronavirus pandemic, but the last couple of weeks have brought some sense of normalcy to college football.

That’s right: It has been watch list season, the two-week stretch when preseason lists for each of college football’s annual awards are released.

As the lists rolled out, AL.com has kept track of which Auburn players have earned some preseason recognition. In all, six different Auburn players appeared on the watch list for nine major awards. Below is a quick roundup of which players landed on which watch lists:

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K.J. Britt, senior linebacker: Britt saw his name pop up more than any other Auburn player this preseason, with the senior linebacker known as “Downhill Britt” appearing on four preseason watch lists. Britt, the Tigers’ leading returning tackler, is up for the Bednarik Award, which is given annually to the nation’s top defensive player; the Butkus Award, which goes to the nation’s top linebacker; the Nagurski Trophy, which is awarded to college football’s best defensive player; and the Lott IMPACT Trophy, which goes to the nation’s best defensive player in both character and performance. Former Auburn defensive tackle Derrick Brown took home the Lott IMPACT Trophy last season.

Bo Nix, sophomore quarterback: After being named the SEC Freshman of the Year last season, Auburn’s starting quarterback landed on the watch lists for the Davey O’Brien Award, which is presented to the nation’s top college quarterback, and the Maxwell Award, which goes to the best all-around player in the nation.

Seth Williams, junior wide receiver: Auburn’s leading receiver last season with 59 receptions for 830 yards and eight touchdowns, Williams made an appearance on the watch list for the Biletnikoff Award, which is awarded to the nation’s best receiver. LSU’s Ja’Marr Chase is the reigning Biletnikoff winner and is also on the watch list. Williams, like Nix, is also on the watch list for the Maxwell Award that goes to the nation’s best all-around player.

D.J. Williams, sophomore running back: Williams, Auburn’s leading returning rusher, ran for 400 yards last season as a true freshman and earned an appearance on the watch list for the Doak Walker Award, which goes to the nation’s top running back.

Big Kat Bryant, senior Buck: Bryant, who is expected to be the leader of a new-look defensive line for Auburn following the departures of Brown and Marlon Davidson, joins Britt on the watch list for the Nagurski Trophy for the nation’s top defender

Chandler Wooten, senior linebacker: Wooten made an appearance on the watch list for the Wuerffel Trophy, which is the top community service award in college football. It is given annually to the player who “best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement.”

Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.