Here is a mild surprise. The Rimington Award watch list does not include a USC player. The award goes to the nation’s top center. USC’s Toa Lobendahn and Nico Falah would have been the candidates.
The Pac-12 has five candidates: Oregon’s Jake Hanson, Oregon State’s Sumner Houston, Stanford’s Jesse Burkett, UCLA’s Scott Quessenberry and Washington’s Coleman Shelton.
The entire watch list is after the jump:
Conference | School | First Name | Last Name | Class Year | Height | Weight |
Am. Athl. | ||||||
East Carolina | Garrett | McGhin | JR | 6’6 | 327 | |
Houston | Will | Noble | JR | 6’4 | 290 | |
Memphis | Drew | Kyser | JR | 6’5 | 300 | |
SMU | Evan | Brown | SR | 6’3 | 308 | |
South Florida | Cameron | Ruff | SR | 6’3 | 320 | |
Temple | Matt | Hennessy | RS FR | 6’4 | 285 | |
Tulsa | Chandler | Miller | JR | 6’3 | 293 | |
ACC | ||||||
Boston College | Jon | Baker | SR | 6’3 | 300 | |
Florida State | Alec | Eberle | RS JR | 6’4 | 294 | |
Wake Forest | Ryan | Anderson | RS JR | 6’6 | 300 | |
Big Ten | ||||||
Illinois | Nick | Allegretti | JR | 6’4 | 315 | |
Iowa | James | Daniels | JR | 6’4 | 295 | |
Maryland | Brendan | Moore | JR | 6’3 | 300 | |
Michigan State | Brian | Allen | SR | 6’2 | 305 | |
Northwestern | Brad | North | RS SR | 6’2 | 290 | |
Ohio State | Billy | Price | SR | 6’4 | 312 | |
Wisconsin | Michael | Deiter | JR | 6’6 | 329 | |
Big 12 | ||||||
Baylor | Tanner | Thrift | SR | 6’5 | 320 | |
Iowa State | Julian | Good-Jones | SO | 6’5 | 295 | |
Kansas | Mesa | Ribordy | SO | 6’4 | 305 | |
Kansas State | Reid | Najvar | SR | 6’4 | 295 | |
Oklahoma | Erick | Wren | RS SR | 6’1 | 320 | |
Oklahoma State | Brad | Lundblade | SR | 6’3 | 300 | |
TCU | Austin | Schlottmann | SR | 6’6 | 300 | |
Texas | Zach | Shackelford | SO | 6’4 | 305 | |
C-USA | ||||||
Florida Atlantic | Antonyo | Woods | RS SR | 6’3 | 295 | |
Marshall | Levi | Brown | RS SO | 6’4 | 296 | |
Old Dominion | Nick | Clarke | JR | 6’4 | 285 | |
Rice | Trey | Martin | SR | 6’2 | 300 | |
WKU | Dennis | Edwards | RS JR | 6’1 | 305 | |
INDP. | ||||||
Army | Bryce | Holland | SR | 6’2 | 285 | |
BYU | Tejan | Koroma | SR | 6’0 | 290 | |
Notre Dame | Sam | Mustipher | SR | 6’2.5 | 305 | |
MAC | ||||||
Akron | LaVonne | Gauthney | SR | 6’1 | 290 | |
Bowling Green | Tim | McAuliffe | RS SR | 6’1 | 282 | |
Buffalo | James | O’Hagan | JR | 6’3 | 310 | |
Central Michigan | Austin | Doan | SR | 6’4 | 300 | |
Kent State | Nathan | Puthoff | SR | 6’4 | 309 | |
Miami (OH) | Danny | Godlevske | SO | 6’2 | 298 | |
Northern Illinois | Luke | Shively | RS JR | 6’2 | 286 | |
Ohio U | Jake | Pruehs | SR | 6’2 | 300 | |
Western Michigan | John | Keenoy | JR | 6’3 | 300 | |
Mtn. West | ||||||
Boise State | Mason | Hampton | RS SR | 6’3 | 303 | |
Colorado State | Jake | Bennett | SR | 6’3 | 290 | |
Fresno State | Aaron | Mitchell | SR | 6’2 | 307 | |
Hawaii | Asotui | Eli | JR | 6’4 | 315 | |
Nevada | Sean | Krepsz | JR | 6’6 | 320 | |
New Mexico | Blaise | Fountain | SR | 6’0 | 280 | |
San Jose State | Keoni | Taylor | SR | 6’3 | 303 | |
Pac-12 | ||||||
Oregon | Jake | Hanson | RS SO | 6’5 | 307 | |
Oregon State | Sumner | Houston | JR | 6’2 | 289 | |
Stanford | Jesse | Burkett | JR | 6’4 | 307 | |
UCLA | Scott | Quessenberry | SR | 6’3 | 315 | |
Washington | Coleman | Shelton | SR | 6’4 | 297 | |
SEC | ||||||
Alabama | Bradley | Bozeman | RS SR | 6’5 | 314 | |
Arkansas | Frank | Ragnow | SR | 6’5 | 316 | |
Auburn | Austin | Golson | SR | 6’5 | 312 | |
Florida |
T.J. | McCoy | RS SO | 6’1 | 308 | |
LSU | Will | Clapp | JR | 6’5 | 309 | |
Ole Miss | Sean | Rawlings | JR | 6’5 | 294 | |
South Carolina | Alan | Knott | SR | 6’4 | 274 | |
Texas A&M | Colton | Prater | SO | 6’4 | 300 | |
Sun Belt | ||||||
Georgia State | Gabe | Mobley | RS JR | 6’2 | 280 |
Full watch list after the jump:
Does anyone think it is the player’s fault USC hasn’t a name on this list? I think it is more about the coaching that is responsible. With the exception of 1 or 2, how many position coaches at USC would be in demand elsewhere? If I am wrong about this…..
I agree – we’ll know pretty quickly (game # 2 – Stanford) as to what exactly has changed since last year’s loss. This year belongs 100% to Helton – it’s all his. Let’s see how prepared this top ranked squad is esp. on defense and the running game
Neither Lobendahn nor Falah have ever looked remotely like the best OC in the country. If either had been nominated, that would have been a shock – a little like Banner at one time claiming he deserved a first round pick slot – amusing, silly and not justified by what the player routinely looked like on the field.
USC’s o-line needs a lot of improvement if the Trojans expect to fulfill this season’s high expectations. Hopefully, these players will improve greatly and show they deserve awards in the post-season, because they clearly don’t now.
Agreed —and they have exactly ONE game to iron out all the problems before things get real serious at the Coliseum, Jack. Here’s hoping they’ll be a lot more ready for Texas than they were for Alabama [and, even if they’re not in Alabama’s class just yet, don’t kid yourself that Texas, with all it’s undeveloped talent, won’t be a serious threat under Herman].
True. Texas could cause all kinds of problems with Herman as HC. Remember when many of us wanted Herman when CH was totally floundering and STAN had just wiped the floor with us last season?
Funny how things change in a short time. And if USC somehow loses to Texas, we’d be right back to where we were before Darnold took over. But if our o-line comes together, I think this team will win big and get into the playoffs.
2017 will be the year we see what Neil Callaway is all about [as a general proposition, I’d usually say that any o-line coach who’s good enough for Bobby Petrino oughta be just fine —– but things never came together for a full game last year].
I don’t know which game was our best blocking job, but Sam was doing his taxes dancing around in the pocket against Washington.
That game meant a lot —-on a personal basis—to Banner. Sam got great protection on his touchdown passes —but the blitz got to him on both interceptions. We need full games by the o-line against Stanford and Texas —if we get them, I agree with Jack: USC will be in the playoffs.
Rogers fell down on one blitz and UW came up with the pick but you are right it was effective. I agree with you and Jack. Mike, the first month will be huge. Western Michigan seems like the tuneup game but they won 13 football games last year so it may be a ball game. Then Texas and Stanford will pose a legitimate threat. Like last year’s Alabama, Stanford and Utah in September this 2017 September will not be easy but also very manageable. We’ll know what we’re mad of very soon out the gate.
Good stuff, Sam. I would add that I hope, if there is a slip up against Stanford or Texas, that Helton can again keep the team together and reach the playoffs ANYWAY.
Me too Mike. I dont want to sound cocky but I think we win out in September. That said I really think Helton needs the Stanford win more now than ever since he’s lost two already and how these rivalry games are early he needs to flex some muscle to show that we aren’t just a flavor of the month.
SO true, Sam. Obviously, all the games count —-but I hope the staff has put big red stars on the game plans for Stanford and Texas.
True!
Wasn’t last year Falah’s first and Toa was actually a guard first then tackle before taking over at center, no?
I guess the old adage if you have two starting qb’s then you have none applies to center too.
Falah played lights out. Lots of praise from other beatwriters. Job may be up for grabs still but i think Nico is the Center.
Agree, with you. Figuring Toa at guard again.
I think that works. Toa at guard.
Word from yesterday is that OT Penei Sewell from Utah dominated the Opening in Oakland. So dominant that he did not lose one rep on the entire day. He was name “Alpaha” of the day. SC needs this kid.
Yup saw some video, very nice looking kid. Although word was that the competition was a little thin. Still, he looks like the real thing.
He’ll be the finals in Oregon. Hopefully he proves it up there against the best of the best.
In my opinion Nico Falah won the job at Center.
If top rated recruits don’t meet their expectations in development, how can they alone be wholly blamed? Coaching has to be a major reason for players making their potential. Yeah, the USC success story for 2017 will be showcasing Sam Darnold. But… if the coaching staff doesn’t make inroads in developing the talent on this squad, it will be a waste of Sam’s talent & USC will be slammed by the experts as pretenders again.