Washington Huskies Football: Three Huskies On Award Watch Lists

Sep 15, 2012; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins (88) stiff arms Portland State Vikings cornerback Andrew Godinet (23) during the 1st half at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

With the Walter Camp Award’s watch list being released Friday morning, it marked the end of “watch list week.” Quarterback Keith Price and running back Bishop Sankey were both named to the list, along with 48 more of college football’s best players, including nine from the Pac-12. USC and Oregon were the only other Pac-12 schools with multiple players on the list.

Price and Sankey lead the watch list charge for the Huskies, with each being named to three preseason lists. Tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins was the only other Husky to make a watch list. On July 8, Price and Sankey were named to the first watch list released, for the Maxwell Award, given to the best player in the nation, voted on by the Maxwell Football Club.

The next day, Seferian-Jenkins was named to the Mackey Award watch list, given to the country’s most outstanding tight end. Many around the country thought ASJ got snubbed last season when he finished third in the voting behind two first-day selections in the NFL Draft, Tyler Eifert (first) and Zach Ertz (second). With both of them out of the picture this season, Seferian-Jenkins is the clear favorite, even if he is suspended for the first game of the season.

After that, the Huskies had to watch as various other watch lists were released and not one Dawg was named, even though the Huskies are thought of as one of the top teams in the nation. Despite being expected to have one of the strongest defenses in the conference, no Huskies made preseason watch lists for any defensive awards. Kasen Williams was also left off the Biletnikoff watch list on July 16, for the top wide receivers in the nation.

Finally, after an eight-day wait, the Davey O’Brien Award watch list was announced with Price on it. The O’Brien Award is given to the best quarterback in the nation. The next day the Doak Walker Award watch list – given to the top running back – was announced and Sankey was included again. It was no surprise the 1,400-yard rusher was included among the top running backs in the nation.

Now, all eyes will be turned to Pac-12 Media Day on July 26, then Fall Practice when it kicks off in early August. Though, the Huskies have not announced whether it will be held in new Husky Stadium or elsewhere, or if it will be open to the public.