Michigan's Denard Robinson named to watch list for Walter Camp Player of the Year award
Michigan senior quarterback Denard Robinson is on the watch list for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
The Michigan football team's star quarterback was named as a candidate for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award on Friday, given to the nation's most outstanding player.
Robinson is also a candidate for the Maxwell Award, and has been tabbed by several outlets as top Heisman Trophy candidate. All awards honor the nation's most outstanding player, regardless of position.
Robinson has also been called the Big Ten's best quarterback and is on the Davey O'Brien Award watch list, given to the nation's top quarterback.
Robinson is one of 50 players on the award watch list, which is not actually a requirement to win the award. The watch list will be narrowed to 10 semi-finalists in mid-November and the 2012 Walter Camp Player of the Year recipient, which is voted on by the 124 NCAA Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors, will be announced live on ESPN SportsCenter on Thursday, Dec. 6.
Robinson's resume is an impressive one heading into his senior season. He's set an NCAA record for rushing yards in a season by a quarterback, and is third in career rushing yards (3,229) among active players. Only Boston College's Montel Harris (3,735 yards) and Wisconsin's Montee Ball (3,310) have more.
His weakness has been his passing. Robinson was 142-of-258 passing (55.0 percent) for 2,173 yards, 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions last year. He also rushed 221 times for 1,176 yards and 16 more scores.
Robinson is one of four Big Ten players on the watch list along with Wisconsin running back Montee Ball, Nebraska running back Rex Burkhead and Michigan State defensive end William Gholston.
Michigan has had two players win the award in Desmond Howard (1991) and Charles Woodson (1997), both of whom also won the Heisman Trophy.
Other Michigan players to appear on watch lists this summer:
- Fitz Toussaint (Doak Walker Award for best running back, Maxwell Award for most outstanding player)
- Brendan Gibbons (Lou Groza Award for best kicker)
- Jordan Kovacs (Bronko Nagurski Trophy for best defender)
- Taylor Lewan (Rotary Lombardi Award for best lineman/linebacker, Outland Trophy for best tackle/guard/center)
- Roy Roundtree (Biletnikoff Award for top receiver)
Contact Pete Cunningham at petercunningham@annarbor.com or by phone at 734-623-2561. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.
Comments
Tom
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 9:13 p.m.
Is that some sort of joke? Where's the threat?
Terry Star21
Fri, Jul 20, 2012 : 7:09 p.m.
That Walter Camp Award is a very serious honor, won DRob could successfully challenge this season. I do however agree with others - DRob has improvement to show us all. You have to believe in the time factor of Borgess and his system, meshing with DRob and the only kind of football he has known. I believe this year everything comes together in this perfect meshing, this perfect marriage of elements. For DRob, there is no tomorrow in college football. He is perhaps the most motivated and determined athlete one will ever see. Add the fact that he is college footballs best projected QB, with college footballs best coaching staff on college footballs best team. Watch the magic, what a year we're headed for ! MgoBlueForTiM....hang on faithful, we're in for a heck of a ride......
Tom
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 9:16 p.m.
Somebody here thinks that it's 1948! College football's best team? BEAT ARMY! Break out the Delorean! There is no threat!
Howard the Duck
Fri, Jul 20, 2012 : 5:59 p.m.
Robinson is the best September player in NCAA history!
RWBill
Fri, Jul 20, 2012 : 5:33 p.m.
I'll just be happy with much improved passing efficiency and ball security.