BATON ROUGE — LSU offensive guard Will Arnold is one of 54 players from across the nation named to the Outland Trophy Watch List, the Football Writers Association of America announced on Monday.
The Outland Trophy has been awarded to the best offensive or defensive lineman in college football since 1946. The winner is selected by the FWAA’s All-America Committee, which also selects the association’s 25-man All-America Team.
Last year, Minnesota’s Greg Eslinger won the Outland Trophy.
Arnold, a junior from Gloster, Miss., earned second-team All-Southeastern Conference honors in 2005 despite playing in only eight games for the Tigers. Arnold missed LSU’s games against Arkansas and Georgia before returning to the lineup to help the Tigers post a 40-3 win over Miami in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
Against Miami, the Tigers rolled up 468 yards of offense, including a season-best 272 rushing yards, in the win over the Hurricanes. Miami entered the Peach Bowl ranked No. 2 in the nation in total defense and were allowing only 11.9 points a contest.
For his efforts in the win over Miami, Arnold was named the to SI.com All-Bowl team.
Arnold enters the 2006 season as one of two returning starters on the offensive line for the Tigers, joining fellow senior Brian Johnson. In two years of action with the Tigers, Arnold has started in 12 games and LSU has a 10-2 mark in those contests, which included a 6-0 record in 2005.
With Arnold’s mention to the Outland Trophy Watch List, LSU now has players named to preseason lists for four national awards. Joining Arnold on national award watch lists are: defensive back LaRon Landry (Nagurski and Bednarik Trophies); linebacker Ali Highsmith (Bednarik Trophy) and quarterback JaMarcus Russell (Maxwell Trophy).
The Tigers open their second season under Les Miles on Sept. 2 when LSU hosts Louisiana-Lafayette at 7 p.m. in Tiger Stadium.
2006 OUTLAND TROPHY PRESEASON WATCH LIST
Player, School
Pos.
Cl.
Hometown
Will Arnold, LSU
G
Jr.
Gloster, Miss.
Sam Baker, USC
OT
Jr.
Tustin, Calif.
Kirk Barton, Ohio State
OT
Jr.
Massillon, Ohio
George Batiste, Southern Miss
OL
Sr.
Avondale, La.
Josh Beekman, Boston College
G
Sr.
Amsterdam, N.Y.
Justin Blalock, Texas
OT
Sr.
Plano, Texas
Conrad Bolston, Maryland
DT
Sr.
Burtonsville, Md.
Levi Brown, Penn State
OT
Sr.
Norfolk, Va.
Andrew Browning, Boise State
DT
Sr.
Lake Oswego, Ore.
Ryan Clady, Boise State
OT
So.
Rialto, Calif.
Brent Curvey, Iowa State
DL
Sr.
Houston, Texas
Brian Daniels, Colorado
OL
Sr.
Evergreen, Colo.
Tim Duckworth, Auburn
G
Sr.
Taylorsville, Miss.
Mark Fenton, Colorado
C
Sr.
Inglewood, Calif.
Doug Free, Northern Illinois
OT
Sr.
Manitowoc, Wis.
Roman Fry, Clemson
OL
Sr.
Ironton, Ohio
Howie Fuimaono, UNLV
DL
Sr.
Chula Vista, Calif.
Rhema Fuller, Connecticut
DT
Sr.
Cocoa, Fla.
Jared Gaither, Maryland
OT
So.
White Plains, Md.
Ryan Harris, Notre Dame
OL
Sr.
St. Paul, Minn.
Daniel Inman, Georgia
OT
Sr.
Hope Mills, N.C.
Tanner Jenkins, Arkansas State
C
Sr.
Baton Rouge, La.
Chase Johnson, Wyoming
OT
Sr.
Loveland, Colo.
Ryan Kalil, USC
C
Sr.
Corona, Calif.
Jake Kuresa, BYU
OL
Sr.
Millville, Utah
Jake Long, Michigan
OL
Sr.
Lapeer, Mich.
Enoka Lucas, Oregon
C
Sr.
Honolulu, Hawaii
Kurt Mann, Nebraska
OL
Sr.
Grand Island, Neb.
Brandon Mebane, California
DT
Sr.
Los Angeles, Calif.
Remel Meekins, Rutgers
DL
Sr.
Westwood, N.J.
Dan Mozes, West Virginia
OL
Sr.
Washington, Pa.
David Ochoa, Kansas
OL
Sr.
Houston, Texas
Jeff Perrett, Tulsa
OT
Sr.
Taber, Alberta
Jeremy Perry, Oregon State
OL
So.
Laie, Hawaii
Quinn Pitcock, Ohio State
DT
Sr.
Piqua, Ohio
Kurt Quarterman, Louisville
OL
Sr.
Albany, Ga.
Manuel Ramirez, Texas Tech
OL
Sr.
Sugarland, Texas
SirVincent Rogers, Houston
OL
Jr.
Jasper, Texas
Samson Satele, Hawaii
OL
Sr.
Kaneohe, Hawaii
Arron Sears, Tennessee
OT
Sr.
Russellville, Ala.
Jeremy Sheffey, West Virginia
G
Sr.
Catlettsburg, Ky.
Brian Stamper, Vanderbilt
OT
Sr.
Windermere, Fla.
Herbert Taylor, TCU
OT
Sr.
Houston, Texas
Shannon Tevaga, UCLA
G
Jr.
Paramount, Calif.
Joe Thomas, Wisconsin
OL
Sr.
Brookfield, Wis.
Marcus Thomas, Florida
DT
Sr.
Jacksonville, Fla.
Robert Turner, New Mexico
G
Sr.
Austin, Texas
Kelly Talavou, Utah
DL
Sr.
Santa Ana, Calif.
Tavo Tupola, Utah
OL
Sr.
Kahuku, Hawaii
Steve Vallos, Wake Forest
OT
Sr.
Boardman, Ohio
Greg Wafford, Kansas State
OL
Sr.
Lancaster, Texas
Theodric Watson, South Florida
OL
Sr.
St. Petersburg, Fla.
Eric Wood, Louisville
OL
So.
Cincinnati, Ohio
Kyle Young, Fresno State
C
Sr.
Fallbrook, Calif.
Tackles, guards and centers are eligible for consideration
Candidates may be added or deleted during the season