By LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
FOLLOW US @LonnPhillips
Yet another couple of LSU Tigers were selected to the roll out of preseason watch-lists ready to debut in the coming days ahead, such as the Butkus & Thorpe (8/7), Davey O'Brien (8/8), Doak Walker (8/9), Biletnikoff (8/10), Walter Camp (8/11), Bednarik (8/14) among others released during that time, making that 11 Tigers now on pre-season watch lists......but something very cool occurred for one of LSU's most deserving Tigers:
Former walk-on turned scholarship starter Josh Williams was selected for the Wuerffel trophy, named after former Heisman / National Championship-winning Florida QB Danny Wuerffel, the award is based on community service, remaining a very prestigious award amongst the others, despite it being one of the only college football awards given out for non-sporting achievements.
Still likely to be LSU's week 1 starting running back among 8 others within Frank Wilson's RBs room, Williams has not only earned his stripes with career highs in yards (532), touchdowns (6), carries (97) and average (5.5), leading the Tigers to major wins as Frank Wilson's main starter. He was also bizarrely clutch when given the ball on 3rd down, even converting an insane 3rd and 18 @ Arkansas.
His 532 rushing yards was the most from any LSU running back (2nd on the team behind QB Jayden Daniels' 885),
Off the field, he is known for participating in many of LSU's community outreach activities or taking the lead on projects, as well, all of which has led to him being nominated for this celebrated award.
Also, incoming sophomore Mason Taylor is on the Mackey preseason watch-list, an award for the nation's #1 tight end. Taylor was key for LSU and played an untold amount of snaps for a freshman, playing the 4th most offensive snaps (843).
Taylor gutted out his freshman campaign as the only tight end offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock trusted in the passing game, and very quickly, Denbrock didn't see any reason why his young tight end should ever leave the field (starting with his powerhouse last second, heads-up play to jump out of bounds vs Florida State, preserving LSU with one final play to tie the game).
Not only trusted, Taylor was relied upon by his veteran QB, receiving the third most targets of any player at LSU last fall (only behind Malik Nabers leading with 100 & Kayshon Boutte at 73).
LSU long snapper Slade Roy was selected for the Patrick Mannely Award, the award given to the best long snapper in the nation. A very deserving resume builder for the future NFL stalwart and beloved special teams Tiger.
by LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER / X @LonnPhillips
Copyright 2023 Uninterrupted Writings Inc, a subsidiary of Uninterrupted Media LLC
Great to see deserving Tigers recognized.