With four players recently named to various collegiate trophy watch lists, Auburn is gearing up for an award-winning season.
Josh Bynes, Craig Stevens, Demond Washington and Wes Byrum have all been named to watch lists for major collegiate football trophies. Bynes and Stevens were placed on the Butkus watch list. Washington was named to the Hornung watch list and Byrum to the Lou Groza watch list.
The Butkus Award is presented annually to the nation's top college linebacker. Bynes led the team with 104 tackles in 2009.
"You just do what you're supposed to do at your position and be the best," Bynes said. "We focus as a team, and it's all about the 10 guys around me. I'm thankful and just doing my job."
After starting 13 games and averaging seven tackles per game in 2009, Stevens was named to the Bronko Nagurski and Butkus award watch lists.
The Nagurski Trophy is given to the nation's top defensive player. Stevens was named Auburn's co-defensive MVP, and his 95 tackles for the season were second-most on the team.
"I try not to think about things like that and just focus on my game," Stevens said. "I try to learn new things and whatever I need to work on, work on that and be the best player I can be."
After hitting 15 of 16 field goal attempts, Byrum was a Lou Groza National Semi-Finalist in 2009. Byrum holds Auburn's single-season record with 54 points after touchdowns.
"It's not really anything I think about for the most part," Byrum said. "I just have to do well in practice and stay on top of my game."
In 2009, Washington totaled 497 kick and 39 punt return yards and finished the year with 36 tackles. The senior defensive back ranked first in the SEC in kickoff return yards and set the Auburn record for kickoff returns, averaging 31.1 yards per rush last season. The Hornung Award is presented to the most versatile player in college football.
"I just go out every day and do what I was asked to do by the coaches and help the team win," Washington said. "It's good, but I go out every Saturday and do what I do."
With multiple players on preseason watch lists, coach Gene Chizik hopes the lists won't affect their gameplay, and he challenges the team to be more consistent.
"They've got to go out and start all over, and they've got to be productive," Chizik said. "I don't know how much of it they read or how much they don't read, but it should have nothing to do with how they play."
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