Alabama has six players named to Maxwell and Bednarik Award watch lists

Each year the Alabama Crimson Tide puts together an impressive roster, and each offseason a number of those players are recognized for their potential by being named to certain watch lists for postseason awards.

On Monday, the Crimson Tide had six players named to the watch list released by the Maxwell Football Club. The Crimson Tide has never had a player win either award, but with the amount of players represented on this year’s watch list, this year is as good of a chance as any. The Maxwell Award is given to college football’s most outstanding player each season, and the Bednarik Award is given to college football’s best defensive player.

Junior quarterback A.J. McCarron and junior running back Eddie Lacy were both named to the 2012 Maxwell Award Watch List. The list includes names like Arkansas’ Tyler Wilson and Knile Davis, Auburn’s Onterio McCalebb, Clemson’s Sammy Watkins and Tennessee’s Tyler Bray.

The award’s semifinalists will be announced October 29, three finalists will be announced on November 19 and the award winner will be announced at the annual Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show on December 6. Last year’s winner was Stanford’s Andrew Luck.

The Tide also had four players named to the 2012 Bednarik Award Watch List. Senior linebacker Nico Johnson, senior defensive tackle Jesse Williams, senior defensive back Robert Lester and junior linebacker C.J. Mosley were all named  to the list. Last year’s winner, LSU’s junior defensive back Tyrann Mathieu, is also on the list and will return to the Tigers with a chance to win the award for the second year in a row.

Today’s watch list is a part of the preseason, 12-day period where the National College Football Awards Association releases watch lists for all major awards. Tuesday’s lists will include the Mackey Award and the Rimington Trophy, Wednesday will be the Lou Groza Award and the Ray Guy Award, Thursday will be the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Outland Trophy, and Friday will be the Jim Thorpe Award.

Alabama’s Barrett Jones will assuredly be named to the watch list for the Outland Trophy, an award he won last season. Jones has a chance to defend his title this season, and his move to the center position could augment his chances by further displaying his versatility as a lineman.