Two Ducks Named to Outland Trophy Watch List

DALLAS – The Football Writers Association of America has released its 2008 Outland Trophy Watch List, which includes two linemen from the University of Oregon – senior center Max Unger and senior offensive tackle Fenuki Tupou. In all, seventy standout linemen from around the country have been nominated for consideration in the preseason.

The Outland Trophy has been awarded to the best interior lineman in college football since 1946. With input from the entire FWAA membership, the winner is selected by the FWAA's All-America Committee, which selects the association's 25-man All-America team and picks the three Outland Trophy finalists and the winner.

Max Unger, a three-year starter from Honaunau, Hawaii, earned All-America first team honors from SI.com (Sports Illustrated) in 2007. Fenuki Tupou, a former junior college All-America honorable mention from Elverta, Calif., was a second-team All-Pac-10 choice last season and took home the Most Valuable Lineman award at the 2007 Brut Sun Bowl.

The 2008 Outland Trophy announcement will be on Dec. 11 in Orlando, Fla., on the ESPNU Home Depot College Football Awards Show. Three finalists will appear on the show. The Outland Trophy presentation banquet, sponsored by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee, will be on Jan. 15, 2008 in Omaha, Neb.

The Outland Trophy is named after the late John Outland, a lineman at Pennsylvania at the turn of the century. Senior defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, who played for the national champion LSU Tigers, won the 2007 Outland Trophy.

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.