These players with Utah ties were named to 2024 college football awards watch lists

The Deseret News is tracking the release of this year’s college football preseason watch lists. Check back for updates on which Utah qualifiers are on the list of the sport’s top prizes.

Paul Hornung Award

Most versatile player in college football

• Parker Kingston, sophomore WR, BYU: After redshirting in 2022, Kingston made his presence known in multiple ways for the Cougars last year. He had his biggest impact in the passing game – catching 19 passes for 207 yards and a touchdown – and also contributed in the running game and on special teams as a kick and punt returner.

2023 Paul Hornung Prize Winner: Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado

Previous local winners (first awarded in 2010): None

Würffel Trophy

College football’s top award for community service and athletic excellence

• Tao Johnson, sophomore S, Utah: Johnson had a great season in 2023, starting 12 of the 13 games he played in, with the bulk of his work coming back to nickel. He finished the year with 33 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, five passes deflected – second most on the team – and one fumble recovery.

• Connor Pay, senior C, BYU: Pay is one of the most experienced veterans returning to BYU for the 2024 season. He has started 32 games on the offensive line over the past three seasons, and Pay is expected to once again anchor the Cougars’ O-line during the Cougars’ Big 12 second year. .

• Jacob Garcia, senior LS, Utah State: Garcia has been the Aggies’ snapper since 2021, playing in 40 games over the past three seasons. He was an Academic All-Mountain West honoree in 2020 and 2021 and was named to the Wuerffel Trophy watch list last year.

Wuerffel Trophy Winner 2023: Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia

Previous local winners (first awarded in 2005): None

Jim Thorpe Award

Best defense in the country

• Ike Larsen, junior S, Utah State: Larsen, selected to the All-Mountain West first team last year and second team the season before, burst onto the scene last year. He finished the 2023 season with 103 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, four interceptions (including one he returned for a touchdown) and a forced fumble, as well as two special teams blocks.

2023 Thorpe Prize Winner: Trey Taylor, S, Air Force

Previous local winners (first awarded in 1986): None

Nagurski Trophy

Best defender in the country

• Jeffrey Bassa, senior LB, Oregon: Bassa, who prepped at Kearns High, has been a consistent performer at Oregon since his freshman year, and the 2023 season was the first year he started every game for the Ducks. In his 14 games, he had a career-high 72 tackles, as well as 3.5 tackles for loss, two pass deflections and one interception.

• Tyler Batty, senior DE, BYU: Batty, who has started 32 games since joining the Cougars for the 2020 season, has put up career numbers during his junior year. He finished the 2023 season with career-highs in tackles (57), tackles for loss (9), sacks (5.5) and forced fumbles (2). Batty, the only BYU player named to the preseason All-Big 12 team, is trying to add to his 15 career sacks.

• Ike Larsen, junior S, Utah State: Larsen, selected to the All-Mountain West first team last year and second team the season before, burst onto the scene last year. He finished the 2023 season with 103 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, four interceptions (including one he returned for a touchdown) and a forced fumble, as well as two special teams blocks.

• Junior Tafuna, senior DT, Utah: Tafuna is a three-year starter and three-time all-conference selection for the Utes. The 2021 Pac-12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year has 77 career tackles, with 12 tackles for loss and seven sacks. Last year, Tafuna also had two pass deflections, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Nagurski Trophy 2023 Winner: Xavier Watts, S, Notre Dame

Previous local winners (first awarded in 1993): None

Terralém Trophy

The best interior attacker in the country

• Junior Tafuna, senior DT, Utah: Tafuna is a three-year starter and three-time all-conference selection for the Utes. The 2021 Pac-12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year has 77 career tackles, with 12 tackles for loss and seven sacks. Last year, Tafuna also had two pass deflections, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Outland Trophy 2023 Winner: T’Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas

Previous local winners (first awarded in 1946): Merlin Olsen, 1961, Utah State; Jason Buck, 1986, BYU; Mohammed Elewonibi, 1989, BYU; Penei Sewell, 2019, East High (Oregon)

Maxwell Prize

College Player of the Year

• Jaxson Dart, senior QB, Ole Miss: Dart, a former Roy High and Corner Canyon High quarterback, had his best college season in 2023. He finished the year completing 65.1% of his passes for 3,364 yards, 23 touchdowns and five interceptions. Dart threw for 7,691 yards in his college career and could surpass the 10,000-yard mark this season.

• Cameron Rising, senior QB, Utah: Rising missed the entire 2023 season due to injury, but returns for his seventh year of college with high expectations. That’s because Rising helped lead Utah to back-to-back Pac-12 championships in 2021 and 2022 — in those two seasons, he threw for 5,527 yards and 46 touchdowns to just 14 interceptions, while also rushing for 964 yards and 12 touchdowns.

• Jalen Royals, senior WR, Utah State: Royals, in his second season at Logan after transferring college, had a breakout season in 2023. He finished with 71 receptions for 1,080 yards and a school-record 15 touchdown receptions. This included four games with over 100 receiving yards and four games with multiple touchdown receptions.

2023 Maxwell Prize Winner: Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington

Previous local winners (first awarded in 1937): Ty DetmerBYU, 1990