Award Show | by Pat

As the 2006 season kicks off, the pre-season watch lists have nearly all been released. It seems the the number of awards keeps growing as I count at least three different awards for quarterback of the year. Still, compared to last year, Notre Dame is now placing players on just about every watch list there is. In fact, ND put a player on every watch list save those for kickers and punters.

The Biletnikoff Award Watch List hasn't been released yet, but I assume that Samardzija will be a candidate. Dwanye Jarrett (a finalist last year), Steve Smith, Steve Breaston, Dorien Bryant, Mark Bradford, and maybe Derrick Williams are all possible nominee names

Maxwell Award - College Player of the Year Award

Notre Dame Nominees
Brady Quinn, Jeff Samardzija, Darius Walker

Opponents
Calvin Johnson, WR - Georgia Tech, Derrick Williams, WR - Penn State. Michael Hart, RB - Michigan, Chad Henne, QB - Michigan, Drew Stanton, QB - Michigan State, Ben Olsen, QB - UCLA, John David Booty, QB - Southern Cal, Dwanye Jarrett, WR - Southern Cal, Steve Smith, WR - Southern Cal

Walter Camp Award - presented to the nation's best player

Notre Dame Nominees
Brady Quinn, Jeff Samardzija

Opponent
Calvin Johnson, WR - Georgia Tech, Paul Posluszny, LB - Penn State, Steve Breaston, WR - Michigan, Michael Hart, RB - Michigan, Chad Henne, QB - Michigan, Drew Stanton, QB - Michigan State, Dwanye Jarrett, WR - Southern Cal

Davey O'Brien Award - presented to the nation's best quarterback

Notre Dame
Brady Quinn

Opponents
Drew Stanton - Michigan State, Trent Edwards - Stanford, Shaun Carney - Air Force, John David Booty - Southern Cal

Manning Award - presented to the nations's best QB (including bowl performances)

Notre Dame
Brady Quinn

Opponents
Reggie Ball - Georgia Tech, Chad Henne - Michigan, Drew Stanton - Michigan State, Curtis Painter - Purdue

Doak Walker Award - presented to the nation's best running back

Notre Dame
Darius Walker

Opponents
Tashard Choice - Georgia Tech, Mike Hart - Michigan, Kory Sheets - Purdue, Chris Markey - UCLA, Adam Ballard - Navy, Ronnie McGill - North Carolina

John Mackey Award - presented to the nation's top tight end

Notre Dame
John Carlson

Opponents
Tyler Ecker - Michigan, Matt Traverso - Stanford, Fred Davis - Southern Cal

Bednarik Award - college football defensive player of the year

Notre Dame
Tom Zbikowski

Opponents
Paul Posluszny, LB - Penn State, Dan Connor, LB - Penn State, Tim Shaw, LB - Penn State, Prescott Burgess - LB, Michigan, LaMarr Woodley, DE - Michigan, Kevin Brown, DL - UCLA, Rob Caldwell, LB - Navy, Brian Cushing, LB - Southern Cal, Lawrence Jackson, DE - Southern Cal, Keith Rivers, LB - Southern Cal

Bronko Nagurski Trophy - presented to the best defensive player in college football

Notre Dame
Tom Zbikowski

Opponents
Paul Posluzny - LB, Penn State, Leon Hall - CB, Michigan, LaMarr Woodley - LB, Michigan, David Herron - LB, Michigan State, Rob Caldwell - LB, Navy, Lawrence Jackson - DE, Southern Cal

Dick Butkus Award - presented to the nation's top linebacker

Notre Dame
Maurice Crum

Opponents
KaMichael Hall - Georgia Tech, Dan Connor - Penn State, Paul Posluszny - Penn State, David Harris - Michigan, David Herron - Michigan State, Rob Caldwell - Navy, Larry Edwards - North Carolina, Rey Maualuga - USC, Keith Rivers - USC

Jim Thorpe Award - presented to the nation's best defensive back

Notre Dame
Tom Zbikowski

Opponents
Leon Hall, CB - Michigan

Lombardi Award - presented to the best college lineman (offense or defense)

Notre Dame
Victor Abiamiri, Ryan Harris, John Sullivan

Opponents
Levi Brown, OT - Penn State, Paul Posluszny, LB - Penn State, LaMarr Woodley, DE - Michigan, Justin Hickman, DE - UCLA, Shannon Tevaga, OG - UCLA, Rob Caldwell, LB - Navy, Cameron Craig, DE - Army, Sam Baker - OT, Southern Cal, Lawrence Jackson, DE - Southern Cal, Ryan Kalil, OC - Southern Cal

Outland Trophy - presented to the best lineman in college football (offense or defense)

Notre Dame
Ryan Harris

Opponents
Levi Brown, OT - Penn State, Jake Long, OT - Michigan, Shannon Tevaga, OG - UCLA, Sam Baker, OT - Southern Cal, Ryan Kalil, C - Southern Cal

Ted Hendricks Award - presented to the nation's top defensive end

Notre Dame
Victor Abiamiri

Opponents
Alan Branch - Michigan, LaMarr Woodley - Michigan, Anthony Spencer - Purdue, Lawrence Jackson - Southern Cal

Rimington Trophy - presented to the nation's best center

Notre Dame
John Sullivan

Opponents
Mark Bihl - Michigan, James Rossi - Navy, Pete Beir - Army, Ryan Kalil - Southern Cal

Lou Groza Award - given to the nation's best kicker

Notre Dame
none

Opponents
Garrett Rivas - Michigan, Justin Medlock - UCLA

Ray Guy Award - presented to the nation's best punter

Notre Dame
none

Opponents
Dave Brytus- Purdue