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6/14
Four Ohio State Players Named to Preseason Watch Lists
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June 14, 2006
COLUMBUS, Ohio: Quarterback Troy Smith, flanker Ted Ginn Jr. and tailback Antonio Pittman have been named to the 60-man preseason watch list for the Maxwell Award which is presented annually by that organization to the College Football Player of the Year. The announcement was made by Maxwell Football Club President Ron Jaworski, who also unveiled the 60-man watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Defensive Player of the Year Award. Ohio State defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock in on the latter list.
Each list will be cut to 12 names in October and then further reduced to three in early November. The winners are announced in December at the Home Depot College Football Awards Show in Orlando, which in televised by ESPN. The actual trophies are presented in March at a dinner in Philadelphia.
Names are added and subtracted to both lists during the season based upon individual performance.
The 6-1, 215-pound Smith, who received his bachelor's degree from Ohio State at the end of the just completed Spring Quarter, is considered a leading candidate for All-America honors and Heisman Trophy consideration in 2006. He is coming off a brilliant junior campaign in which he guided the Buckeyes to a 10-2 record and a seven-game winning streak at the end of the season that included back-to-back wins at Michigan and over Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl. He rolled up 745 yards in total offense in those two games and improved his record as a starter to 13-2.
Ginn, the Buckeyes' other candidate for All-America and Heisman recognition in 2006, is one of the most electrifying players in college football. The 6-0, 180-pound speedster is the Buckeyes' leading returning receiver, snaring 51 receptions for 803 yards and four touchdowns last year - all career highs. He totaled 17 receptions for 256 yards in the wins over Michigan and Notre Dame, and had touchdowns of 56 yards (pass) and 68 yards (reverse) in the latter contest. In addition to his receiving skills, he is also one of the nation's most dangerous kick return men and already holds the Big Ten record for career punt returns for touchdowns with five. He added to that total last year with a 62-yard punt return against Indiana. He also had a 100-yard kickoff return against Minnesota in 2005. <!-- STORY AD BEGINS HERE -->
<!-- STORY AD ENDS HERE --> Pittman solidified the Buckeyes' ground game in 2005 by rushing for 1,331 yards and seven touchdowns in his first year as a starter. He averaged 5.5 yards per carry in a stellar sophomore campaign and scored the winning touchdown against Michigan and the game-clincher against Notre Dame. His 60-yard TD run late in the fourth quarter against the Irish came despite a hamstring pull that limited his number of carries in that game. His 132 rushing yards against Notre Dame gave him seven 100-yard games on the year, including a career-best 186 yards at Minnesota. After not scoring any touchdowns in the Buckeyes' first seven games in 2005, he enters the 2006 season with at least one rushing TD in each of his last five games.
Pitcock is one of two returning starters on the Ohio State defense. The 6-3, 295-pound senior will be in his third year as a regular at tackle for the Buckeyes and has played in 37 games the past three seasons. One of the strongest players on the team, he is an outstanding leader both on and off the field. Pitcock enters his senior year with 94 career tackles, including 15.5 tackles-for-loss and six sacks. In addition to being exceptionally strong, he also has a 36-inch vertical leap that allows him to change the quarterbacks throwing motion and makes him an effective inside pass rusher.
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6/14
Four Ohio State Players Named to Preseason Watch Lists
<blank></blank>
June 14, 2006
COLUMBUS, Ohio: Quarterback Troy Smith, flanker Ted Ginn Jr. and tailback Antonio Pittman have been named to the 60-man preseason watch list for the Maxwell Award which is presented annually by that organization to the College Football Player of the Year. The announcement was made by Maxwell Football Club President Ron Jaworski, who also unveiled the 60-man watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Defensive Player of the Year Award. Ohio State defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock in on the latter list.
Each list will be cut to 12 names in October and then further reduced to three in early November. The winners are announced in December at the Home Depot College Football Awards Show in Orlando, which in televised by ESPN. The actual trophies are presented in March at a dinner in Philadelphia.
Names are added and subtracted to both lists during the season based upon individual performance.
The 6-1, 215-pound Smith, who received his bachelor's degree from Ohio State at the end of the just completed Spring Quarter, is considered a leading candidate for All-America honors and Heisman Trophy consideration in 2006. He is coming off a brilliant junior campaign in which he guided the Buckeyes to a 10-2 record and a seven-game winning streak at the end of the season that included back-to-back wins at Michigan and over Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl. He rolled up 745 yards in total offense in those two games and improved his record as a starter to 13-2.
Ginn, the Buckeyes' other candidate for All-America and Heisman recognition in 2006, is one of the most electrifying players in college football. The 6-0, 180-pound speedster is the Buckeyes' leading returning receiver, snaring 51 receptions for 803 yards and four touchdowns last year - all career highs. He totaled 17 receptions for 256 yards in the wins over Michigan and Notre Dame, and had touchdowns of 56 yards (pass) and 68 yards (reverse) in the latter contest. In addition to his receiving skills, he is also one of the nation's most dangerous kick return men and already holds the Big Ten record for career punt returns for touchdowns with five. He added to that total last year with a 62-yard punt return against Indiana. He also had a 100-yard kickoff return against Minnesota in 2005. <!-- STORY AD BEGINS HERE -->
<!-- STORY AD ENDS HERE --> Pittman solidified the Buckeyes' ground game in 2005 by rushing for 1,331 yards and seven touchdowns in his first year as a starter. He averaged 5.5 yards per carry in a stellar sophomore campaign and scored the winning touchdown against Michigan and the game-clincher against Notre Dame. His 60-yard TD run late in the fourth quarter against the Irish came despite a hamstring pull that limited his number of carries in that game. His 132 rushing yards against Notre Dame gave him seven 100-yard games on the year, including a career-best 186 yards at Minnesota. After not scoring any touchdowns in the Buckeyes' first seven games in 2005, he enters the 2006 season with at least one rushing TD in each of his last five games.
Pitcock is one of two returning starters on the Ohio State defense. The 6-3, 295-pound senior will be in his third year as a regular at tackle for the Buckeyes and has played in 37 games the past three seasons. One of the strongest players on the team, he is an outstanding leader both on and off the field. Pitcock enters his senior year with 94 career tackles, including 15.5 tackles-for-loss and six sacks. In addition to being exceptionally strong, he also has a 36-inch vertical leap that allows him to change the quarterbacks throwing motion and makes him an effective inside pass rusher.
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