By GUERIN EMIG Sports Writer on Jul 10, 2012, at 9:12 AM Updated on 7/10 at 9:12 AM
OU SPORTS
Cornerback Aaron Colvin returned for his senior year at Oklahoma to win some games, win some awards and put himself in prime ...
Keeping with the Big 12 vs. SEC theme of the week, I found something pretty cool from a year ago, when the two conferences ...
We're still more than a year and a half from the first College Football Playoff, and the first CFP selection committee, and ...
College football's watch list season began Monday with the Maxwell and Bednarik Awards. Oklahoma put three nominees – Landry Jones, Kenny Stills and Dominique Whaley – on the Maxwell list, and two – Tony Jefferson and Demontre Hurst – on the Bednarik.
Over the next 10 days, you'll see more Sooners making more lists. Every award/trophy has one, except for the Heisman. The Heisman is far too important to be bothered with a watch list.
What we thought we'd do is sort of cut to the chase and handicap OU's chances of actually receiving the hardware. After all, it's a little more meaningful to win it in December than make a list for it in July.
Here we go...
Outland (outstanding interior lineman)
Last Sooner to win it: Jammal Brown, 2004
Current Sooner with best shot: I don't think they have much of one, honestly. But if it were me, I'd at least consider Gabe Ikard. Poor guy comes to college to catch passes, winds up playing guard and now even has to sub for pal Ben Habern at center.
Not only does he not complain about it, he gives some of the wisest, most interesting interview answers on the team. Love that guy.
Lombardi (Lineman of the Year)
Last Sooner to win it: Tommie Harris, 2003
Current Sooner with best shot: The last offensive player to win it was Orlando Pace in 1996. That being the case, OU must wait until the next Harris arrives. He isn't on the current roster.
Maxwell (College Player of the Year)
Last Sooner to win it: Jason White, 2004
Current Sooner with best shot: Jones. The last time a quarterback didn't win the Maxwell was 2002, when it went to Penn State running back Larry Johnson.
Walter Camp (another College Player of the Year)
Last Sooner to win it: Running backs win this one a little more often (Darren McFadden in 2007, Reggie Bush in '05). Still, we'll stick with Jones.
O'Brien (outstanding quarterback)
Last Sooner to win it: Sam Bradford, 2008
Current Sooner with best shot: I'll refrain from the wise-guy answer (Blake Bell) and go with Jones.
Bednarik (Defensive Player of the Year)
Last Sooner to win it: Teddy Lehman, 2003
Current Sooner with best shot: Jefferson. Been touting what Mike Stoops might do for this guy since he returned to Norman. Not stopping now.
Nagurski (another Defensive Player of the Year)
Last Sooner to win it: Derrick Strait, 2003
Current Sooner with the best shot: Jefferson. Although if Stoops moved fullback Aaron Ripkowski to defense, he'd be in the running.
Thorpe (outstanding defensive back)
Last Sooner to win it: Strait, '03
Current Sooner with best shot: Jefferson. I actually think Hurst could get in the mix, but first he'll need numbers. And I don't think he's going to rack 'em up with quarterbacks throwing to the other side of the field most of the time.
Butkus (outstanding linebacker)
Last Sooner to win it: Lehman, '03
Current Sooner with best shot: Tom Wort
Doak Walker (outstanding running back)
Last Sooner to win it: Has never happened. Nope, Adrian Peterson didn't win it. Cedric Benson beat him (and Cal's J.J. Arrington) in 2004. He wasn't even a finalist in '05 (Bush, DeAngelo Williams and Jerome Harrison were) or '06 (McFadden, Mike Hart and Steve Slaton were).
Yeah.
Current Sooner with best shot: Whaley. The onetime Subway sandwich artist is already the people's champ.
Biletnikoff (outstanding wide receiver)
Last Sooner to win it: Ryan Broyles was poised to win OU's first Freddie last year, until he lost his ACL against A&M. The drought continues.
Current Sooner with best shot: Trey Metoyer, in an upset over Stills. Although he'll be a better candidate in 2013 than '12.
Mackey (outstanding tight end)
Last Sooner to win it: Hasn't happened. Jermaine Gresham was one of three finalists in 2008, but he lost when voters failed to recognize that Missouri's Chase Coffman was really a wide receiver.
Current Sooner with best shot: First one to catch 10 passes. Not in a game, the entire season.
Rimington (outstanding center)
Last Sooner to win it: None. Vince Carter was a finalist in 2004. Jon Cooper should have been a finalist in '08.
Current Sooner with best shot: Well, since he's the starting center, and since he was on the Rimington Watch List that came out last May, I'll say Habern.
Groza (outstanding kicker)
Last Sooner to win it: None. The crazy thing is Trey DiCarlo was a finalist in 2003, then lost his job to Garrett Hartley the very next season. Hartley became a finalist in '06.
Current Sooner with best shot: Michael Hunnicutt. Prediction: "Hunni" wins one with a last-second field goal next fall, becoming the first OU kicker to do so since one of Bud's linemen.
Ray Guy (outstanding punter)
Last Sooner to win it: Zippo.
Current Sooner with best shot: Tress Way. Although when Jack Steed takes over in another year, he's going to win three of these babies.
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