Recapping Tulsa’s Football Players Named to Preseason Watch Lists
9/15/2020 7:00:00 AM | Football
TULSA, Okla. –– As Tula football opens the season, here's a recap of preseason watch lists that recognize Golden Hurricane football players. A total of eight Tulsa players were named to seven different preseason national award watch lists.
The list of candidates for Tulsa includes running backs Shamari Brooks and Corey Taylor II, quarterback Zach Smith, receiver Keylon Stokes, linebacker Zaven Collins, cornerback Akayleb Evans, offensive tackle Chris Paul and long snapper Adam Higuera. Brooks and Stokes were named to two of the watch lists.
• DOAK WALKER AWARD … the senior running back duo of Shamari Brooks and Corey Taylor II have been named to the Doak Walker Award Watch List for the nation's top running back … Brooks makes the list for the third straight year, while Taylor is on the preseason list for the second consecutive season … the duo has combined for 4,190 yards and 45 TDs … Brooks rushed for 1,046 yards and 6 TDs last year, while Taylor II gained 461 yards and 6 touchdowns in 2019.
• MAXWELL AWARD … Shamari Brooks has been selected to the preseason watch list for the 84th Maxwell Award presented annually to the most outstanding player in college football … the 5'9" Brooks enters the 2020 season ranked 5th on the school's career rushing list and 9th for career rushing TDs … he has played in 32 career games and has 2,700 total rushing yards and 23 TDs.
• BEDNARIK AWARD … Zaven Collins has been named to the watch list for the 26th annual Chuck Bednarik Award, presented to the nation's outstanding defensive player … a linebacker, Collins was a second-team American Athletic Conference selection last year after recording 97 tackles, eight TFLs for -27 yards, two sacks and two pass breakups … he has played in 24 career games with 22 starts and has totaled 182 tackles and 17.5 TFLs, six pass breakups and two fumble recoveries … a 2018 Freshman All-American as named by USA Today and FWAA, Collins has six double-figure tackle games and two blocked kicks in his career.
• WUERFFEL TROPHY … Cornerback Akayleb Evans and offensive lineman Chris Paul, both juniors, have been named to the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List … the Wuerffel Trophy is known as "College Football's Premier Award for Community Service" … Evans began the Akayleb Evans Foundation in his hometown of McKinney, Texas, in 2017 … the Foundation started the #TouchdownwithToys event every Christmas and this past May provided gift cards to staff members at the McKinney Urgent Care in showing appreciation for their fight against COVID … Paul was recently named as the American Athletic Conference's representative to the NCAA Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for 2020-21 … Paul will serve as chair of the conference's SAAC executive board for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 academic years.
• BILETNIKOFF AWARD … Receiver Keylon Stokes has been named to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List, which recognizes college football's most outstanding FBS receiver regardless of position … Stokes had a team-leading 1,040 yards and six touchdowns on 62 receptions for a 16.9 average per catch and an 86.7 average per game in 2019 … he had four 100+ receiving games last season
• PATRICK MANNELLY Award … Adam Higuera has been named one of 20 preseason candidates to the Patrick Mannelly Award Watch List, which is presented to the best FBS senior long snapper … the award is in its second season … Higuera has handled long snapping duties in all 36 career games played.
• EARL CAMPBELL TYLER ROSE AWARD … The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award recognizes the nation's top offensive player with ties to the state of Texas … a pair of Tulsa seniors –– Zach Smith, from Grandview, Texas, and Keylon Stokes, from Manvel, Texas –– have been named to the watch list … Smith, a 6'3" quarterback, started all 12 games and passed for 3,279 yards, 19 touchdowns and just nine interceptions with a 131.9 passing efficiency in 2019 … a 6'0" senior receiver, Stokes caught 62 passes for 1,040 yards, six touchdowns, a 16.9 average per catch and an 86.7 average per game … he had four 100+ receiving games last year, including a career-best 144 yards against Houston … he totaled 1,503 all-purpose yards last year.
Players Mentioned
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