Clayborn, Klug and Sash named to more Watch Lists
As the 2010 college football season quickly approaches, several notable awards are starting to release their "watch lists."
This year, the watch lists are peppered with the names of Iowa Hawkeye players.
The 2010 Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list features two well known Hawkeyes: DE Adrian Clayborn and S Tyler Sash.
Clayborn made a lasting impression on Big Ten fans in 2009. In addition to his Orange Bowl MVP and his First-Team All-Big Ten selection, Clayborn blocked a punt for a touchdown against Penn State which earned him Big Ten Player of the Week honors.
Clayborn finished the 2009 season second in the Big 10 in sacks, which tied him for ninth nationally. He was also third in the Big Ten in tackles-for-loss, which also has him ninth nationally.
The senior defensive end was also recently named to the prestigious Playboy magazine pre-season all-America team.
Sash joins Clayborn on the watch list.
The junior safety was an All Big Ten selection last season, as well as a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award. He has 11 career interceptions for a school record for return yards with 350. Sash is on pace to break Nile Kinnick's career interception total, should he not decide to leave school early for greener fields in the NFL.
Sash was also placed on the 2010 Lott Trophy watch list.
The 2010 Bronko Nagurski Trophy is awarded annually by the Football Writers Association of America to the nation's best defensive player.
The Nagurski Trophy Watch List showcases the "best and brightest" upcoming season's defensive players.
To go along with two Iowa players being named to the 2010 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List, another Hawkeye has earned a spot on the 2010 Outland Trophy Watch List.
Iowa's Karl Klug is one of several Big Ten players on this year's Outland Trophy Watch List.
The watch list provides the first glimpse at a talented group of college offensive and defensive tackles, offensive guards, and centers.
While fellow teammate Adrian Clayborn gets most of the attention on Iowa's defensive line, Klug is a beast in his own right. In 2009, Klug recorded 65 tackles, 13 tackles-for-loss, five pass breakups, four sacks and two forced fumbles
ESPN's Adam Rittenberg ranks Klug as the No. 23 best player in the Big Ten. Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz told Rittenberg , "If you surveyed any 10 of our players now, at least nine of them would tell you, maybe 10, that Karl Klug is one of our best leaders and one of our best players."
Last season, Klug was named first team all-Big Ten by Sporting News and earned an honorable mention all-Big Ten by conference coaches.
The Outland Trophy is awarded to college football's best interior lineman by the Football Writers Association of America. It is the third oldest award in college football.
Over the years, players in the Big Ten have won 12 Outland Trophies.
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