June 19, 2006
Dallas, Texas – The Football Writers Association of America has announced the 2006 Outland Trophy Watch List. Fifty-four standout linemen from around the country have been nominated for consideration in the preseason. The list included UNM standout senior offensive guard Robert Turner, a first team all-MWC selection in 2005. Turner is the only Lobo on a watchlist this summer.
Turner is one of the premier run blockers in the Mountain West Conference and has improved his pass protection each year. Turner is averaging 10.3 knockdown blocks per game during his career, the best of any lineman in Rocky Long’s 8-year tenure. In 2006 Turner will slide outside to play right tackle – a move former UNM standout Claude Terrell also made in his senior year in 2004. Turner is the Lobos’ enforcer on offense who sets the physical tone in practice and on game day.
The Outland Trophy has been awarded to the best offensive or defensive lineman in college football since 1946. The winner is selected by the FWAA’s All-America Committee, which selects the association’s 25-man team and picks three Outland Trophy finalists.
The 2005 Outland Trophy announcement will be on Dec. 7 in Orlando, Fla., on the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show. The Outland Trophy presentation banquet, sponsored by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee and First Data Corporation, is set for Jan. 11, 2007, in Omaha, Neb.
Minnesota center Greg Eslinger won the 2005 Outland Trophy. He was the third player from Minnesota to win the award after Tom Brown (1960) and Bobby Bell (1962). He is only the third center to claim major-college football’s third-oldest award.
The Outland Trophy has been awarded annually by the FWAA since 1946. It is named after the late John Outland, a lineman at Pennsylvania at the turn of the century.
Nebraska has more Outland Trophy winners than another school. Seven Cornhuskers have claimed the trophy, with Nebraska center Dave Rimington being the only player to win it twice (in 1981 and ’82).
Additional Outland Trophy candidates may be added during the course of the season. Tackles, guards and centers are eligible for consideration.
2006 OUTLAND TROPHY PRESEASON WATCH LIST
Player, School Pos. Cl. Hometown
Will Arnold, LSU G Jr. Gloster, Miss.
Sam Baker, USC OT Jr. Tustin, Calif.
Kirk Barton, Ohio State OT Jr. Massillon, Ohio
George Batiste, Southern Miss OL Sr. Avondale, La.
Josh Beekman, Boston College G Sr. Amsterdam, N.Y.
Justin Blalock, Texas OT Sr. Plano, Texas
Conrad Bolston, Maryland DT Sr. Burtonsville, Md.
Levi Brown, Penn State OT Sr. Granby, Pa.
Andrew Browning, Boise State DT Sr. Lake Oswego, Ore.
Ryan Clady, Boise State OT So. Rialto, Calif.
Brent Curvey, Iowa State DL Sr. Houston, Texas
Brian Daniels, Colorado OL Sr. Evergreen, Colo.
Tim Duckworth, Auburn G Sr. Taylorsville, Miss.
Mark Fenton, Colorado C Sr. Inglewood, Calif.
Doug Free, Northern Illinois OT Sr. Manitowoc, Wis.
Roman Fry, Clemson OL Sr. Ironton, Ohio
Howie Fuimaono, UNLV DL Sr. Chula Vista, Calif.
Rhema Fuller, Connecticut DT Sr. Cocoa, Fla.
Jared Gaither, Maryland OT So. White Plains, Md.
Ryan Harris, Notre Dame OL Sr. St. Paul, Minn.
Daniel Inman, Georgia OT Sr. Hope Mills, N.C.
Tanner Jenkins, Arkansas State C Sr. Baton Rouge, La.
Chase Johnson, Wyoming OT Sr. Loveland, Colo.
Ryan Kalil, USC C Sr. Corona, Calif.
Jake Kuresa, BYU OL Sr. Millville, Utah
Jake Long, Michigan OL Sr. Lapeer, Mich.
Enoka Lucas, Oregon C Sr. Honolulu, Hawaii
Kurt Mann, Nebraska OL Sr. Grand Island, Neb.
Brandon Mebane, California DT Sr. Los Angeles, Calif.
Remel Meekins, Rutgers DL Sr. Westwood, N.J.
Dan Mozes, West Virginia OL Sr. Washington, Pa.
David Ochoa, Kansas OL Sr. Houston, Texas
Jeff Perrett, Tulsa OT Sr. Taber, Alberta
Jeremy Perry, Oregon State OL So. Laie, Hawaii
Quinn Pitcock, Ohio State DT Sr. Piqua, Ohio
Kurt Quarterman, Louisville OL Sr. Albany, Ga.
Manuel Ramirez, Texas Tech OL Sr. Sugarland, Texas
SirVincent Rogers, Houston OL Jr. Jasper, Texas
Samson Satele, Hawaii OL Sr. Kaneohe, Hawaii
Arron Sears, Tennessee OT Sr. Russellville, Ala.
Jeremy Sheffey, West Virginia G Sr. Catlettsburg, Ky.
Brian Stamper, Vanderbilt OT Sr. Windermere, Fla.
Herbert Taylor, TCU OT Sr. Houston, Texas
Shannon Tevaga, UCLA G Jr. Paramount, Calif.
Joe Thomas, Wisconsin OL Sr. Brookfield, Wis.
Marcus Thomas, Florida DT Sr. Jacksonville, Fla.
Robert Turner, New Mexico G Sr. Austin, Texas
Kelly Talavou, Utah DL Sr. Santa Ana, Calif.
Tavo Tupola, Utah OL Sr. Kahuku, Hawaii
Steve Vallos, Wake Forest OT Sr. Boardman, Ohio
Greg Wafford, Kansas State OL Sr. Lancaster, Texas
Theodric Watson, South Florida OL Sr. St. Petersburg, Fla.
Eric Wood, Louisville OL So. Cincinnati, Ohio
Kyle Young, Fresno State C Sr. Fallbrook, Calif.
Tackles, guards and centers are eligible for considerationCandidates may be added or deleted during the season