Alabama football is racking up nominations for national awards in the preseason.
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After the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation recognized him as a candidate for the Fred Biletnikoff Award, the Louisville Sports Commission announced on Thursday that Jaylen Waddle is one of 50 players named to the Paul Hornung Award Watch List.
The honor goes to the top kickoff return/punt return specialist in college football and for the Crimson Tide, the program has yet to have a student-athlete win the award. Waddle, a junior at wide receiver from Houston, Texas, has been the most dangerous return man in the sport.
In each of the last two seasons, he’s placed much strain on coverage teams as he is a threat to score each time he touches the ball.
He led the nation in 2018 with an average of 14.6 yards per punt return as a freshman, while totaling 24.4 yards per return last year and collecting 720 yards total with two touchdowns.
Waddle returns five kickoffs in 2019 for an average of 35 yards per return.
Alabama players on preseason award watch
-Dylan Moses, LB: Lott IMPACT, Bednarik, Butkus
-Patrick Surtain II, CB: Jim Thorpe, Bednarik, Nagurski
-Shane Lee, LB: Butkus
-LaBryan Ray, DL: Nagurski, Outland Trophy
-Alex Leatherwood, OL: Outland Trophy
-Landon Dickerson, OL: Outland Trophy
-Deonte Brown, OL: Outland Trophy
-Mac Jones, QB: Davey O’Brien
-Najee Harris, RB: Doak Walker
-Devonta Smith, WR: Biletnikoff
-Jaylen Waddle, WR: Biletnikoff, Paul Hornung
-Carl Tucker, TE: Mackey Award
-Miller Forristall, TE: Wuerffel Award
He recorded 175 yards on kick returns with one touchdown. His lone score, a 98-yard return versus Auburn, was one of three total scores he collected in the Iron Bowl. The 5-foot-10, 182-pounder tallied 1,227 all-purpose last year with eight scores.
For his career, Waddle has 2,308 all-purpose yards and 16 touchdowns.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
