LSU well represented on preseason watch lists

The LSU Tigers are represented on some 13 preseason watch lists.

The Tigers begin practice for the 2015 season on Thursday in Baton Rouge.

Walter Camp Award

LSU sophomore running back Leonard Fournette earned a spot on the Walter Camp Football Foundation’s 50 “players to watch” for its 2015 Player of the Year award.

Fournette set the LSU freshman rushing record last year with 1,034 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also added 625 kickoff return yards and 127 receiving yards to end the season with 1,786 all-purpose yards, sixth-most in a single season in LSU history.

The Walter Camp Player of the Year award watch list will be narrowed to 10 semifinalists in mid-November. The winner will be announced live on ESPN SportsCenter on Dec. 10.

Biletnikoff Award

LSU junior wide receiver Travin Dural is on the 2015 Biletnikoff Award Watch List. The award is presented annually to college football’s most outstanding receiver.

A junior from Breaux Bridge, Dural emerged as the leader of the Tigers’ receiving corps last season as he paced the team with 37 receptions for 758 yards and seven touchdowns.

Dural achieved three 100-yard receiving games in 2014, highlighted by a career-best 151 yards in the season opener against Wisconsin.

He also hauled in the longest reception in LSU history with a 94-yard scoring strike on the first play from scrimmage against Sam Houston State

Ten semifinalists for the award will be chosen on Nov. 16, and the three finalists will be selected on Nov. 24. The winner of the 22nd annual Biletnikoff Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 10.

LSU alum Josh Reed won the Biletnikoff Award during his record-setting All-America season in 2001.

Doak Walker Award

LSU sophomore running back Leonard Fournette is on the 2015 Doak Walker Award preseason watch list. The award is presented annually to the nation’s top college running back.

A 2015 preseason All-American, Fournette made an immediate impact as a true freshman in 2014 when he set the LSU freshman rushing record with 1,034 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Fournette, who also handled kickoff returns a year ago, led the Southeastern Conference in all-purpose yards at 137.4 per game, and he ranked fourth in the league in kickoff returns at 26.0 per return.

He closed his freshman season with a flurry, rushing for 146 yards and a touchdown in a win at Texas A&M and followed that with 143 rushing yards and two touchdowns, including an 89-yard scamper, against Notre Dame in the Music City Bowl.

Fournette also added a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Notre Dame as he finished with a career-best 264 all-purpose yards. A New Orleans native, Fournette ended the 2014 season with 1,786 all-purpose yards to rank sixth in LSU single-season history.

Ten semifinalists for the Doak Walker Award will be announced on Nov. 17, and the three finalists will be released on Nov. 24.

Butkus Award

LSU junior linebacker Kendell Beckwith is part of the 2015 watch list member for the 31st annual Butkus Award. The award is presented each season to the top linebacker in the nation.

It is the third award preseason watch list in which Beckwith has been featured. He is also a candidate for the Bednarik Award and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy.

Beckwith, who started the final seven games of the 2014 season, enters his first full season as the starting middle linebacker after he racked up 77 tackles, 7.5 tackles for a loss, two sacks, three pass breakups, two quarterback hurries, two fumble recoveries and one interception that he returned 29 yards for a touchdown last year.

A gifted athlete, Beckwith will serve as a leader for the Tigers’ stout defense that ended 2014 ranked No. 1 in the SEC in total defense and No. 2 in scoring defense.

Semifinalists will be named Nov. 2, finalists on Nov. 23 and the winner will be notified on or before Dec. 8.

Lombardi Award

LSU senior offensive tackle Vadal Alexander and freshman offensive lineman Toby Weathersby are two of 145 candidates named to the 2015 Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List.

The Lombardi Award is presented annually to the nation’s best lineman or linebacker. Eligibility for the award is limited to down linemen, end-to-end, either on offense or defense or linebackers who set up no farther than five yards deep from the line of scrimmage.

The most experienced player on the offensive side of the ball, Alexander enters his fourth season as a starting lineman in 2015. He is expected to make the shift out to right tackle after starting at left guard in 2013 and 2014.

Alexander ranked second on the team last season with 75.5 knockdowns, and he was third in total snaps played at 757.

Weathersby earned a spot on the watch list after winning the inaugural Greater Houston High School Award as a senior at Westfield High School in 2014.

Outland Trophy

LSU senior offensive tackle Vadal Alexander is one of 82 players selected to the Outland Trophy Watch List. The Outland Trophy is presented to the nation’s top interior lineman in college football. Offensive tackles, guards and centers and defensive tackles are eligible to win the award.

The most experienced player on the offensive side of the ball, Alexander enters his fourth season as a starting lineman in 2015. He is expected to make the shift out to right tackle after starting at left guard in 2013 and 2014.

Alexander ranked second on the team last season with 75.5 knockdowns, and he was third in total snaps played at 757.

Nagurski Award

Linebacker Kendell Beckwith and safety Jalen Mills are among preseason candidates for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy. The Nagurski Trophy is awarded to the best defensive player in college football each season.

A total of 88 players make up the Nagurski watch list, including Beckwith and Mills, and more players are available to be added each week once the season starts.

Maxwell Award

LSU sophomore running back Leonard Fournette has been named to the 79th annual Maxwell Award watch list. The Maxwell Award is presented each season to America’s College Player of the Year since 1937.

Fournette made an immediate impact as a true freshman in 2014 when he set the LSU freshman rushing record with 1,034 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Fournette, who also handled kickoff returns last season, led the Southeastern Conference in all-purpose yards at 137.4 per game, and he ranked fourth in the league in kickoff returns at 26.0 per return.

Bednarik Award

LSU senior safety Jalen Mills and junior linebacker Kendell Beckwith have been named to the 21st annual Chuck Bednarik Award watch list. The Bednarik Award is given to the College Defensive Player of the Year.

Mills enters his senior season having started all 39 games in his career, racking up 186 tackles and six interceptions.

The Desoto, Texas, native will begin his second season as a starter at safety after spending his first two seasons as a starting cornerback.

Beckwith, who started the final seven games of the 2014 season, enters his first full season as the starting middle linebacker after he accumulated 77 tackles, 7.5 tackles for a loss, two sacks, three pass breakups, two quarterback hurries, two fumble recoveries and one interception that he returned 29 yards for a touchdown last year.

Semifinalists for the Maxwell and Bednarik Awards will be announced Nov. 2, while the three finalists for each award will be unveiled Nov. 23. The winners of both awards will be announced as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on Dec. 10 in Atlanta.

Rimington Award

LSU junior Ethan Pocic is one of 63 players named to the Rimington Trophy watch list. The award is presented annually to the most outstanding center in NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision.

A 6-foot-7, 301-pounder, Pocic has started four games at center in his career with three coming last season and one as a true freshman in 2013. He also started nine games at right guard a year ago.

Ray Guy Award

LSU senior punter Jamie Keehn is among 25 players to earn a spot on the Ray Guy Award Preseason Watch List. The award is given annually to the nation’s best punter.

Keehn represents the third punter during the Les Miles era to be named to the Ray Guy Award preseason watch list. That list includes Chris Jackson (2006) and fellow Australian Brad Wing (2012). Wing also was a semifinalist for the award in 2011 and 2012.

Paul Hornung Award

LSU sophomore running back Leonard Fournette is one of 44 players selected to the 2015 Paul Hornung Award watch list. The Hornung Award, now in its sixth season, is given annually to the most versatile player in major college football.

A 2015 preseason All-American, Fournette made an immediate impact as a true freshman in 2014 when he set the LSU freshman rushing record with 1,034 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Fournette, who also handled kickoff returns, led the Southeastern Conference in all-purpose yards at 137.4 per game, and he ranked fourth in the league in kickoff returns at 26.0 per return.

Wuerffel Trophy

LSU senior punter Jamie Keehn is on the preseason watch list for the Wuerffel Trophy.

The Wuerffel Trophy, known as “College Football’s Premier Award for Community Service,” is presented annually by the All Sports Association in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, to the FBS player that best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement.