Pet Cat Watch: FWAA Announces Outland, Nagurski Watch Lists For 2013

What do you mean it's not professional football?

Don't worry, I'm not gonna dive into the rabid inconsistencies in what the NCAA tells us they are about and what actually transpires in their two money producing sports; that's a debate for another forum. Sometimes, I just like to take the cheap shots. I'm sure there will be some that want to take me to task on this one and we can hash it out in the comments section.

For now, let's talk about the actual play on the field. Being that I didn't attend a college that was rich in the tradition of big time college football, I don't have a fever for any particular college team. I did grow up right against the University of Maryland campus, but outside of the pros that pay their players, the DC area is a basketball town through and through. The late Len Bias attended the same high school I'd later graduate from, the great high school coach Morgan Wooten lived in my neighborhood and his famed DeMatha Catholic High School was right down the street from me. That doesn't even get into the icon known as John Thompson and the Georgetown Hoyas.

What that means is that to me, following collegiate football is more about sorting through the players for potential NFLers. Which brings us to this article; the announcement of the Outland and Nagurski Trophy Watchlists for the 2013 football season. The Watchlists are mailed out to members of the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) each preseason, of which my draft work and $50 have earned me inclusion. They feature the names of several dozen players that should be well known by writers that cover the college game, as they are seen as the best of the best.

The Outland Trophy, the third-oldest award in college football, celebrates each seasons' to "interior" collegiate lineman. That spans both offense and defense, and although we don't refer to offensive tackles that way, this award does. The only line position ineligible is the edge rusher, the defensive end.

The Bronco Nagurski Trophy is awarded to the nation's top defensive player each season.

The watch lists are fluid, as names will be added or removed as the season progresses, until they whittle the lists down to the finalists and then finally select a winner after the regular season concludes. Still though, if you are looking to get an early jump on a pet cat based on the perceived Cowboys needs, these watchlists are a good place to start. When you look closely at them, you'll see that those on the lists actually outnumber the count of players from each position that get drafted every year. In effect, these are seven-round starter kits for the draftniks out there.

Outland Trophy Watchlist (click on column headers to sort)

Nagursky Trophy Watchlist (click on column headers to sort)

I know that we have plenty of readers that perform double duty in their fandom and follow the college game closely. Place your bets on your pet cats now.