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BYU quarterback Taysom Hill and defensive lineman Bronson Kaufusi were on Tuesday named to watch lists for the Maxwell and Bednarik Awards, respectively.
The Maxwell Award is given to the player of the year in college football, while the Bednarik Award is presented to the defensive player of the year.
The nominations represent the start of the annual college football preseason award watch-list roll-out, as sanctioned by the National College Football Awards Association.
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Hill enters his senior season coming off an injury-shortened 2014 campaign in which he played in only five of 13 games, yet still led the Cougars in rushing touchdowns and third-down conversions.
For his career, Hill leads all BYU QBs in career rushing yards (2,140), rushing touchdowns (22) and yards-per-carry average (5.5). He is one of only nine players in FBS history to have recorded a game with 100-plus yards rushing and 400-plus yards passing.
Hill has passed for 4,338 yards at BYU, with 30 touchdowns and a 57.1% career completion percentage.
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Kaufusi has recorded 24 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks during his BYU career, leading BYU with seven sacks during the 2014 season.
A senior in 2015, Kaufusi is seen by most NFL draft analysts as BYU's best 2016 draft prospect on the defensive side of the ball.
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BYU Football Players on 2015 College Football Award Watch Lists
Player | Position | Award | Recognition | No. of nominees | Semifinalists | Finalists | Winner | Sponsoring Organization |
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Taysom Hill | QB | Maxwell Award* | College Player of the Year | 80 | Nov. 10 | Nov. 23 | Dec. 10 | Maxwell Football Club |
Bronson Kaufusi | DL | Bednarik Award* | College Defensive Player of the Year | 80 | Nov. 10 | Nov. 23 | Dec. 10 | Maxwell Football Club |
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The Maxwell and Bednarik Awards are two of 22 annual awards sanctioned by the National College Football Awards Association. Over the next two weeks, watch lists for 16 of the awards will be released as follows:
Tue., July 7: Bednarik Award/Maxwell Award
Wed., July 8: Mackey Award/Rimington Trophy
Thu., July 9: Lou Groza Award/Ray Guy Award
Fri., July 10: Bronko Nagurski Trophy/Outland Trophy
Mon., July 13: Jim Thorpe Award
Tue., July 14: Butkus Award/Rotary Lombardi Award
Wed., July 15: Biletnikoff Award/Wuerffel Trophy
Thurs, July 16: Davey O'Brien Award/Doak Walker Award
Fri., July 17: Walter Camp Award