PJ Williams Selected for Outland Trophy Preseason Watch List

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Williams Selected for Outland Trophy Preseason Watch List

DALLAS (SMU) ΓÇô SMU offensive lineman PJ Williams was named to the 2025 Outland Trophy Preseason Watch List, the Football Writers Association of America announced in a release on Tuesday.

Williams is one of 50 standout interior linemen selected with honorees representing nine of the FBS conferences and Independents. The ACC had seven of its players earn spots on the watch list.

Williams was a prominent member of the offensive line that anchored another powerful offensive attack in 2024, leading SMU to its first College Football Playoff (CFP) appearance and an unblemished 8-0 ACC regular season record. The Mustangs performed at an elite level offensively, averaging 36.5 points per game on the year, the seventh-highest average for a season in program history, despite moving up to a power conference.

The 511 points scored in 2024 were the third most in program history. The line also opened up the running game, finishing with eight games with at least 150 yards rushing on the year. SMU's 29 rushing touchdowns tied for the third most in program history for a single season.

With Williams' help, SMU ranked in the top 25 in FBS in scoring offense (8th, 36.5), first downs offense (12th, 319), team passing efficiency (20th, 150.08) and sacks allowed (24th, 1.29).

The junior has already garnered three other preseason accolades, claiming spots on Phil Steele's Preseason All-ACC Fourth Team, DCTF All-Texas Second Team and Athlon Sports All-ACC First Team.

The Outland Trophy, celebrating its 80th year 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 FWAA will announce six or seven Outland Trophy semifinalists on Nov. 19 at a reception in Omaha, and those players will then be pared down to three finalists announced on Nov. 25 on ESPN.

The recipient of the 2025 Outland Trophy will be announced on The Home Depot College Football Awards, live on ESPN on Friday, Dec. 12. The official trophy 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 on Jan. 21, 2026 in Omaha, Neb.

[highlander]

Fun fact: one of his teammate's dad won the Outland!

[Otto]

Who was that?

[highlander]

Who was that?

RJ Maryland's dad Russell Maryland. He was the #1 overall pick in the 1991 draft. But before that he played in the Cotton Bowl against the Whorns and absolutely DISMANTLED them! It was a thing of beauty!

[Otto]

Oh. Right. Of course.
I assumed another offensive lineman's dad.
OK, that's a little embarrassing.

[ClassOf81]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Williams Selected for Outland Trophy Preseason Watch List

DALLAS (SMU) ΓÇô SMU offensive lineman PJ Williams was named to the 2025 Outland Trophy Preseason Watch List, the Football Writers Association of America announced in a release on Tuesday.

Williams is one of 50 standout interior linemen selected ...

Interior? Since when? He has been a tackle since he transferred.