Preseason awards season continued on Tuesday as both the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Outland Trophy watchlist were announced by the FWAA. On Monday, the Maxwell Award watchlist was announced, featuring 12 Big Ten players. The Nagurski Trophy shortlist included 16. Now, the Outland Trophy features a baker’s dozen Big Ten players, led by Ohio State and USC with three each.
The FWAA announced the 75-player shortlist for the 2024 Outland Trophy. Each year, the Outland Trophy is awarded to the top interior lineman in college football. Both offensive and defensive linemen are eligible to win the award and this year, it’ll be the 79th year for the honor.
The Buckeyes and Trojans are tied for second-most in the nation with Alabama, just behind Georgia’s quartet.
13 Big Ten Players on the Outland Trophy Watchlist
A Trio of Trojans
The best defensive tackles from the West Coast four joining the Big Ten, USC’s Bear Alexander transferred in from Georgia after the 2022 season and broke out for the Trojans last year. From his defensive tackle spot, he recorded 48 tackles, six-and-a-half tackles for loss, one-and-a-half sacks, and broke up four passes. He is also on the Nagurski Trophy watchlist, along with most of the defenders on this list.
A tackle-turned-center, Jonah Monheim is a fifth-year senior and returning captain for the Trojans. He was the first USC freshman to log starts at both tackles in 2021. In his career, Monheim has started 34 games in total; 18 at right tackle, 12 at left tackle, and four at right guard. He is coming off a Second-Team All-Pac-12 selection last year.
Redshirt senior guard Emmanuel Pregnon transferred to USC from Wyoming before last season. He brought with him 11 starts at right guard for the Cowboys. Last year, Pregnon slotted in a left guard for the Trojans and made 12 starts.
Three Buckeyes Racking Up Honors
This will be Josh Fryar‘s third season suited up for the Buckeyes at right tackle. He appeared in 12 games in 2021 as depth, appeared in all 13 games in 2022, and then earned the starting role before the 2023 season and has not given it up since. Fryar is coming off a First-Team All-Big Ten season and has played 1,156 snaps across his career with 14 starts.
Quite possibly the most NFL-ready Ohio State offensive lineman is left guard, Donovan Jackson. He’s made 26 consecutive starts for the Buckeyes and he appeared in another 13 games before that. Jackson is going for his third straight First-Team All-Big Ten selection and improving his 2025 NFL Draft stock.
Finally, on the other side of the ball, Tyleik Williams is a fourth-year defensive tackle for the Buckeyes. He flashed in his first two seasons and finally broke out last year. For his career, Williams has amassed 90 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, three sacks, five pass breakups, a forced fumble, and recovered a fumble for a touchdown. Williams also appeared on the Nagurski watchlist.
An Elite Wolverine Duo
One of the top defensive linemen in the nation, Mason Graham is set to lead Michigan in 2024. The junior has Freshman All-American and Second-Team All-American honors to his name over the last two years. He is coming off his first First-Team All-Big Ten selection. Graham has amassed 63 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, over five sacks, two pass breakups, a forced fumble, and a recovered fumble.
This is the first preseason award list featuring freak defensive tackle, Kenneth Grant. Despite only logging five starts in his time with the Wolverines, Grant has the attention of scouts everywhere. He’s an athletic freak with 29 games of experience over the last two seasons. In the CFP National Championship, he accounted for a sack, a pass breakup, and two solo tackles. 340-pound defensive tackles aren’t supposed to be able to chase down running backs in the open field but Grant did it. Grant is due for a massive 2024 season.
Three More Offensive Tackles
Nebraska is expected to take a step forward and the play of tackle Bryce Benhart will go a long way. He enters the 2024 season tied atop the Nebraska career starts by an offensive lineman leaderboard. If he takes home the award, he’d increase the Cornhuskers’ all-time lead. The program has produced nine winners, most in the nation.
Ajani Cornelius transferred to Oregon from Rhode Island before the 2023 season. With the Rams, Cornelius started 11 games between 2021 and 2022 and earned First-Team All-Colonial Athletic Association honors. He came right in and became the Ducks’ starting right tackle for all 14 games last year. He did not allow a single sack in 512 pass-blocking snaps.
Finally, the Golden Gophers have a star at left tackle with Aireontae Ersery. After taking a couple of years to get going when he broke through, he made it worthwhile. He enters 2024 after starting each of the last 26 games for the Golden Gophers. Ersery was an AP First-Team All-Big Ten selection a year ago and earned Second-Team honors from the conference.
Two Interior Offensive Linemen
Finally, the last two honorees lie on the interior offensive line. Logan Jones started his Iowa career on the defensive line. After two years, Jones flipped to the offensive side before the 2022 season. He won the starting center job and started all 13 games for the Hawkeyes. Last year, Jones started all 13 games at center and earned Third-Team All-Big Ten honors.
Sal Wormley is a sixth-year senior for Penn State heading into his third season as a starter. He had to sit and wait his turn after three years. Wormley entered 2024 starting the last 26 games for the Nittany Lions and was an Honorable Mention for the Big Ten a year ago.
