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Penn State trio lands on preseason watch lists

By Audrey Snyder/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 8 years ago

July means it’s time for all of the college football watch lists to release award candidates and Tuesday morning was no exception. 


Penn State Nittany Lions defensive tackle Anthony Zettel (98) breaks through the Akron Zips defense during the third quarter at Beaver Stadium. (Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports)

Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg and wide receiver DaeSean Hamilton were among the 80 nominees for the Maxwell Award’s 2015 watch list, the football club announced Tuesday. Defensive tackle Anthony Zettel landed on the Bednarik Award watch list, the award given annually to the top college defensive player of the year. Complete lists for the Maxwell and Bednarik awards can be found here.

Hackenberg looks to rebound after a shaky sophomore season where he played behind a struggling offensive line that looks to run the corner this season. Already projected by some as a potential first-round draft pick, the junior threw 12 touchdowns to 15 interceptions last season. 

Hamilton burst onto the field last season as a redshirt freshman and led the team in receptions (82), and receiving yards (899). 

No player was more disruptive than Zettel whose freakish athleticism continued to impress during his redshirt junior season. He led the team in tackles for loss (17), sacks (8) and tied safety Adrian Amos for a team best three interceptions. Zettel’s offseason of tree tackling and slam dunks could be the preview to another freakishly unique season for the 6-foot-4, 278-pound senior. 

Semifinalists for both awards will be revealed on Nov. 23 and the winners will be announced Dec. 10. Like in previous years the Maxwell Football Club’s awards gala will be held in Atlantic City in March. The Penn State senior class and former head coach Bill O’Brien were honored with the football club’s Brookshire Spirit Award while O’Brien was named the Collegiate Coach of the Year during the 2013 gala.  

The preseason awards will continue to be announced in the coming weeks with the full schedule below:

  • Wed., July 8: Mackey Award / Rimington Trophy
  • Thurs., July 9: Lou Groza Award / Ray Guy Award
  • Fri., July 10: Bronko Nagurski Trophy / Outland Trophy
  • Mon., July 13: Jim Thorpe Award
  • Tues., July 14: Butkus Award / Rotary Lombardi Award
  • Wed., July 15: Biletnikoff Award / Wuerffel Trophy
  • Thurs, July 16: Davey O’Brien Award / Doak Walker Award
  • Fri., July 17: Walter Camp Award

Audrey Snyder: asnyder@post-gazette.com and Twitter: @audsnyder4