Osborne selected to Outland Trophy preseason watch list

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Osborne Selected To Outland Trophy Preseason Watch List

DALLAS (SMU) - SMU center Justin Osborne was selected to the 2024 Outland Trophy preseason watch list in a release by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) on Tuesday.

Osborne joins a list of 75 returning standout interior linemen representing all 10 Division I FBS conferences and independents.

The Flower Mound native has been a staple along the line during his four years on the Hilltop. Osborne has started 42 games as a Mustang and is a two-time all-conference selection. In 2023, he helped anchor an offensive line that ranked in the top 20 in FBS in scoring offense (eighth), sacks allowed (13th) and total offense (16th).

Osborne earned numerous accolades for his play last season, highlighted by being a first-team All-AAC selection and being named to the Dave Campbell's Texas Football (DCTF) All-Texas First Team.

He was also named to the preseason DCTF All-Texas First Team and Phil Steele Preseason All-ACC Team for the upcoming year.

The recipient of the 2024 Outland Trophy will be announced on The Home Depot College Football Awards, live on ESPN on Dec. 12, 2024. The official presentation to the winner will be made at the Outland Trophy Awards Dinner sponsored by Werner Enterprises and produced by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee in Omaha, Neb., on Jan. 22, 2025.

The FWAA will announce the Outland Trophy semifinalists on Nov. 20, and those players will then be paired down to three finalists announced on Nov. 26. The Outland Trophy winner is chosen from those finalists who will be part of the annual FWAA All-America Team. The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the entire membership, selects a 26-man first team and eventually the three Outland finalists. Committee members, then by individual ballot, select the winner. Only interior linemen on offense or defense are eligible for the award; ends are not eligible.

Players may be added or removed from the watch list during the course of the season. For a second year now, the FWAA will announce an Outland Trophy National Player of the Week each Tuesday this season. If not already on the watch list, each week's honored player will be added at that time.

The Outland Trophy, celebrating 79 years since its founding, is the third-oldest major college football award. Created in 1946 when Dr. John Outland presented the FWAA with a financial contribution to initiate the award, the Outland Trophy has been given to the best interior lineman in college football ever since Dr. Outland, an All-American at the University of Pennsylvania in the late 1890s, eventually took up practice in Kansas City, Mo. An avid outdoorsman, Dr. Outland believed linemen did not get the credit they deserved and wanted an award to recognize them.

The Outland Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football's most prestigious awards and its 24 awards have honored more than 900 recipients dating back to 1935. This season, 12 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday.