Hankins joins Outland, Nagurski watch lists
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Having already landed on one of the nation's most prestigious watch lists, Ohio State defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins picked up a few more eyeballs on Thursday, when he was added to watch lists for both the Outland Trophy and Bronko Nagurski Trophy.
Hankins is one of 71 players to be named to the watch list for the Outland Trophy, which is awarded annually to college football's best interior lineman by the Football Writers Association of America. Since its creation in 1946, four Buckeyes have won the award: Jim Parker (1956), Jim Stillwagon (1970), John Hicks (1973), and Orlando Pace (1996).
Three finalists for the Outland Trophy will be chosen from the FWAA's All-America team on Nov. 19. The winner will be announced on Dec. 6 as a part of the Home Depot College Football Awards Show.
Also presented by the FWAA, as well as the Charlotte Touchdown Club, the Nagurski Trophy is given annually to the nation's best defensive player. The 6-foot-3, 317-pound Hankins joins teammate John Simon on the 84-member watch list. Linebacker James Laurinaitis (2006) is the only Buckeye to have won the award in its 19-year history.
After choosing five finalists for the award from its All-America team on Nov. 15, the winner of the Nagurski Trophy will be announced on Dec. 3 at a banquet in Charlotte, N.C.
Entering his junior season, Hankins is coming off of a 2011 season that saw him record 67 tackles- 11 of which came for a loss- and three sacks. Simon, a senior defensive end, tallied 53 tackles and team-highs of 16 tackles for a loss and seven sacks a season ago.
Earlier this week, both Hankins and Simon were named to the watch list for the Bednarik award, which goes to the nation's top defensive player. Other Buckeyes named to watch lists this week include quarterback Braxton Miller (Maxwell Award), tight end Jake Stoneburner (John Mackey Award), and kicker Drew Basil (Lou Groza Award).
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