ORLANDO – The Football Writers Association of America has announced the preseason watch list for the 2021 Outland Trophy, recognizing 80 returning standout interior linemen, and UCF's Cole Schneider was among the honorees.
The recipient of the 2021 Outland Trophy will be announced on The Home Depot College Football Awards, live on ESPN in December. 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. 12, 2022.
Schneider, who was alson named to the watch list last year, is one of five to be honored from The American, joining Tulane guard Corey Dublin, Memphis guard Dylan Parham, Tulsa offensive tackle Tyler Smith, and SMU guard Jaylon Thomas.
A three-time all-conference honoree in the AAC, Schneider has appeared in 36 games, starting 34 times on the offensive line in three years on the field for UCF. He earned first-team all-conference accolades in both 2018 and 2020 and earned second-team honors in 2019.
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, celebrating 75 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.
Knights on Preseason Watch Lists
- July 19: Dillon Gabriel, Maxwell Award
- July 20: Dillon Gabriel, Davey O'Brien Award
- July 22: Jaylon Robinson, Biletnikoff Award
- July 27: Cole Schneider, Outland Trophy
Schneider and the Knights will open preseason camp on Wednesday, Aug. 4 and will begin the 2021 season on Thursday, Sept. 2 against Boise State at the Bounce House.