Ruff & Wilcox Named To National Award Watch Lists
TAMPA, JULY 11, 2017 – Bay Area Bulls
Cameron Ruff (Tampa) and
Mitchell Wilcox (Tarpon Springs) were named to national award watch lists Tuesday as the National College Football Awards continued their announcements of preseason candidates for national recognition in college football.
Ruff was named to the Rimington Trophy Watch List, while Wilcox was named to the John Mackey Award Watch list. The pair joined
Quinton Flowers (Maxwell) and
Deatrick Nichols (Bednarik) among Bulls on national awards watch lists, the majority of which are being announced over the next two weeks.
Ruff, a senior center, was among seven American Athletic Conference players named to the Rimington Trophy Watch List, which recognizes the top center in college football. He started all 13 games at center in 2016 and earned the team's Offensive Lineman of the Year award as he helped the USF offense set school records with 77 touchdowns, 47 rushing touchdowns (second in the FBS), 3,714 rushing yards and 6,650 yards of total offense, while ranking in the top 20 in the nation in sacks allowed (1.15). Behind Ruff and the Bulls offensive line, USF extend its nation-leading streak of 30-plus point games to 17 as Ruff helped pave the way for USF to finish the season ranked fifth nationally in rushing offense (285.3 ypg), fourth in scoring offense (43.8 ppg) and 11th in total offense (511.5 ypg).
Wilcox, a sophomore, was named to the watch list for the Mackey Award, presented annually to the most outstanding collegiate tight end. Wilcox is one of four American Athletic Conference players named to the list and the third straight Bull named to the preseason list, joining
Sean Price (named to the list 2013-15) and current USF junior
Elkanah Dillon (Ocala), who was named to the list prior to his sophomore season.
Wilcox and Dillon form one of the most potent tight end duos in the nation. Wilcox is coming of a freshman season that saw him earn second team all-conference honors. He started the last eight games of the season as he proved to be a devastating blocker on the edge, springing numerous big plays for the Bulls. Wilcox also caught 12 passes for 278 yards (23.2 ypc) and two touchdowns as he helped the Gulf Coast Offense set school records. He started his career with a 21-yard touchdown catch against Towson and made a career long 52-yard reception against No. 13 FSU.
ABOUT THE AWARDS
The Rimington Trophy is presented annually to the Most Outstanding Center in NCAA Division I-A College Football. Since its inception, the Rimington Trophy has raised over $2.9 million for the cystic fibrosis community. The award is overseen by the Boomer Esiason Foundation, which is committed to finding a cure for cystic fibrosis. Dave Rimington, the award's namesake, was a consensus first-team All-American center at the University of Nebraska in 1981 and 1982, during which time he became the Outland Trophy's only double winner as the nation's finest college interior lineman. For more on the Rimington Trophy and a list of past recipients, visit www.rimingtontrophy.com
The Mackey Award recipient is selected by vote of the John Mackey Award Selection Committee and will be announced on December 6, 2017 and then presented live at The Home Depot College Football Awards Red Carpet Show on ESPNU. NFL Hall of Fame member John Mackey is considered to be the best to have played the tight end position.
ABOUT USF FOOTBALL
USF finished the 2016 season ranked No. 19 in the Associated Press poll with a school-record 11 wins following the program's fifth-ever bowl victory in the Birmingham Bowl. The Bulls' 11-2 record marked the fifth-best winning percentage in FBS football in 2016 and one of just 11 teams to reach 11 wins. USF set nearly 40 team and individual records in 2016, including team records for total yards (6,650), rushing yards (3,714), touchdowns (77) and scoring (569). Junior quarterback Quinton Flowers was named the American Conference Offensive Player of the Year and led a school-record 10 players named to the all-conference team, six of which, including Flowers, will return in 2017.
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