Five Tigers Named to Preseason Award Watch Lists

Evan Boehm, E.J. Gaines, Dorial Green-Beckham, James Franklin and Henry Josey were named to preseason watch lists for some of college football’s premier awards.

Boehm, a sophomore, is on the Rimington Trophy watch list. The Rimington Trophy has been given to the most outstanding collegiate center since 2000. The Rimington Trophy committee named 44 players to the 2013 watch list, and the SEC leads all conferences with nine candidates.

Gaines, a senior, is on the Bednarik Award watch list. The Bednarik award has been given to the college defensive player of the year since 1995. The 2013 watch list includes 75 student-athletes.

Green-Beckham, a sophomore, is on the Biletnikoff Award watch list. The Biletnikoff Award recognizes the most outstanding receiver in college football, and has been doing so since 1994. Green-Beckham led the Mizzou Tigers last season in receiving touchdowns.

Franklin, a senior, is one of 34 quarterbacks on the 2013 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award watch list. The award is given every year to the nation’s top quarterback.

Josey, a redshirt junior, is a preseason candidate for the Doak Walker Award, given to the nation’s premier running back. Josey was a Doak Walker Semifinalist in 2011 before his season was cut short due to injury. Josey is one of 63 running backs up for the award.

Additionally, junior tailback Marcus Murphy has been named to the Paul Hornung Award preseason watch list, presented by Texas Roadhouse. The award is presented to the nation’s most versatile player. Murphy, a Second Team All-American and First Team Al-SEC honoree last season, returned four kicks for touchdowns last season, a school record.

View all of the watch lists on the NCAA’s website.