ORLANDO (UCFKnights.com) – The Football Writers Association of America announced the preseason watch list for the 2018 Outland Trophy presented by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases on Tuesday and two Knights were recognized. UCF’s Trysten Hill and Jordan Johnson were selected among the top interior linemen in the nation heading into the fall season.
Hill, who was also named to the Bednarik Award Watch List on July 16, returns to lead the UCF defensive line in 2018. He was named Second Team All-Conference in The American and has started all 26 of the Knights’ games since he stepped in campus in 2016.
Also a Rimington Trophy Watch List honoree, Johnson returns to lead the UCF offensive line in 2018. A First Team All-Conference selection in The American as a sophomore, Johnson started all 13 games at center in 2017.
The Outland Trophy winner is chosen from three finalists who are a 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.
The Outland Trophy, now in its 73rd year, 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.
2018 Watch Lists
July 16 – McKenzie Milton, Maxwell Award
July 16 – Trysten Hill, Bednarik Award
July 17 – McKenzie Milton, O’Brien Award
July 20 – Jordan Johnson, Rimington Trophy
July 23 – Kyle Gibson, Thorpe Award
July 24 – Trysten Hill, Outland Trophy
July 24 – Jordan Johnson, Outland Trophy
PURCHASE 2018 TICKETS
Season tickets are going fast for the highly anticipated 2018 campaign. Fans can purchase theirs today and learn about all their options by calling (407) 823-1000 or visiting us online at UCFKnights.com/createthefuture.