Finally, and mercifully, our long national watch list nightmare has come to an end as the prestigious Walter Camp Award has become the final major award to announce its 2011 preseason group of players to watch.
A total of 40 players made the initial Camp watch list, including 2010 finalists LaMichael James of Oregon and Andrew Luck of Stanford. Of the 40 players on the list, 30 were from the offensive side of the ball and 10 the defensive.
There are just four sophomores on the list -- San Diego State running back Ronnie Hillman, South Carolina RB Marcus Lattimore, Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray and Wisconsin RB James White.
Quarterback was the most popular position with 15 players named, followed by running backs and wide receiver with seven apiece. Linebackers and defensive ends accounted for three players each.
The award has been handed out annually since 1967 and is named in honor of Walter Camp, the former Stanford and Yale head coach in the latter part of the 19th century who has been dubbed “The Father of American Football”.
Last year’s winner was Auburn’s Cam Newton.
Below is the complete list of the 2011 preseason Camp watch listers:
Matt Barkley, QB, USC, Junior
Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State, Junior *
Ryan Broyles, WR, Oklahoma, Senior *
Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State, Junior
Tank Carder, LB, TCU, Senior
Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina, Senior
Kirk Cousins, QB, Michigan State, Senior
Jared Crick, DT, Nebraska, Senior
Knile Davis, RB, Arkansas, Junior
Michael Egnew, TE, Missouri, Senior *
Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame, Senior
Jeff Fuller, WR, Texas A&M, Senior
Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor, Senior
Chandler Harnish, QB, Northern Illinois, Senior
Ronnie Hillman, RB, San Diego State, Sophomore
Jayron Hosley, DB, Virginia Tech, Junior *
LaMichael James, RB, Oregon, Junior *
Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina, Junior @
Brandon Jenkins, DT, Florida State, Junior
Damarais Johnson, WR, Tulsa, Senior
Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma, Junior
Case Keenum, QB, Houston, Senior %
Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College, Junior *
Marcus Lattimore, RB, South Carolina, Sophomore @
Robert Lester, DB, Alabama, Junior @
Brandon Lindsey, DE, Pittsburgh, Junior
Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford, Senior @
Jonathan Massaquoi, DE, Troy, Junior
Bryant Moniz, QB, Hawaii, Senior
Kellen Moore, QB, Boise State, Senior
Aaron Murray, QB, Georgia, Sophomore
Eric Page, WR/KR, Toledo, Junior *
Dan Persa, QB, Northwestern, Senior
Chris Polk, RB, Washington, Junior
Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama, Junior
Denard Robinson, QB, Michigan, Junior
Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia, Junior
Darron Thomas, QB, Oregon, Junior
Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklahoma State, Senior
James White, RB, Wisconsin, Sophomore
*- 2010 Walter Camp First Team All-America selection
@ - 2010 Walter Camp Second Team All-America selection
% - 2009 Walter Camp Second Team All-America selection