Michigan's Denard Robinson named to watch list for Walter Camp Player of the Year award

By Pete Cunningham Sports Director

Posted on Fri, Jul 20, 2012 : 10:30 a.m.

Michigan senior quarterback Denard Robinson is on the watch list for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

Another day in the football offseason, another award people think Denard Robinson might win.

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: