Fresno State Athletics
Clutts, Wendell on Prestigious Preseason Watch Lists
6/12/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
June 12, 2007
FRESNO, Calif. - Two of Fresno State's outstanding senior football players are getting from excellent preseason recognition.
Tyler Clutts, a senior defensive end from Clovis, has been named to the Bronko Nagurksi Trophy watch list. The Nagurski Trophy, presented by the Charlotte Touchdown Club, is for the best defensive player in college football. Clutts was one of 50 players named to the list. He enters his senior season with 16 career quarterback sacks.
The Charlotte Touchdown Club will hold the 2007 banquet on Monday, Dec. 3, at the Westin Hotel in Charlotte. Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis won the 2006 Bronko Nagurski Trophy.
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is awarded in memory of the legendary Nagurski, a former All-America lineman at Minnesota in 1927-29 and a star for professional football's Chicago Bears in the 1930s.
Senior center Ryan Wendell has been selected to the watch list of the Outland Trophy. The Outland Trophy has been awarded to the best interior lineman in college football since 1946.
The 2007 Outland Trophy announcement will be on Dec. 6 in Orlando, Fla., on the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show. The Outland Trophy presentation banquet, sponsored by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee, will be in January 2008 in Omaha, Neb.
The Outland Trophy has been awarded annually by the FWAA since 1946. It is named after the late John Outland, a lineman at Pennsylvania at the turn of the century. Wisconsin offensive tackle Joe Thomas won the 2006 Outland Trophy.
Wendell, who has started the last 35 games for the Bulldogs, will move to center for his senior season. He was a leader of Fresno State's line that paved the way for record-setting running back Dwayne Wright, the No. 6 NCAA rusher in 2006, and set a school record allowing just 12 quarterback sacks. Wendell was earlier named to the Rimington Award watch list, an award for the nation's most outstanding center. He's also a candidate for academic honors.
"It's great to have both Tyler and Ryan earn such recognition," said head coach Pat Hill. "They are two of our outstanding senior leaders and we expect big things from them this year. They work hard and are good students and we are very proud of their accomplishments."
