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Six Spartans on preseason NCAA football award watch lists

July 15, 2013
Junior linebacker Max Bullough watches as teammates perform drills for NFL scouts March 13, 2013, during Pro Day at the Duffy Daugherty Football Building. MSU football holds the annual event for NFL scouts and coaches to get a closer look at the Spartans' NFL prospects. Adam Toolin/The State News
Junior linebacker Max Bullough watches as teammates perform drills for NFL scouts March 13, 2013, during Pro Day at the Duffy Daugherty Football Building. MSU football holds the annual event for NFL scouts and coaches to get a closer look at the Spartans' NFL prospects. Adam Toolin/The State News —
Photo by Adam Toolin | and Adam Toolin The State News

Six MSU football players have been put on the preseason NCAA radar, racking in multiple “watch list” awards altogether for the 2013-14 season.

The awards MSU players were honored with are as followed: Bednarik Award, which is presented to the best defensive player; Butkus Award, given to the best linebacker; Rimington Award, presented to best center; Nagurski Trophy, awarded to be the best player defensively adjudged by the Football Writers Association of America; Thorpe Award, honored to best defensive back and the Ray Guy Award is given to the best punter in the nation.

Max Bullough: All-American, Bednarik, Nagurski, Butkus watch lists

Senior middle linebacker Bullough brought in the most preseason awards for MSU.
Elected team captain in 2012, Bullough led the team in tackles for the second-straight year with 111, good enough for ninth in the Big Ten. Bullough also excels in the classroom, being named an Academic All-Big Ten selection for the second-straight year, earning a 3.73 GPA as a finance major.

Darqueze Dennard: Bednarik, Nagurski and Thorpe watch lists

Senior cornerback Dennard was a first-team All-Big Ten selection by coaches in 2012. Entering his third season as starting cornerback, Dennard had 105 tackles, six interceptions and 16 passes defended in 30 career games.

Travis Jackson: Rimington watch list

In his sophomore season, Jackson started five games at center before suffering a broken leg and knee injury in a loss to Ohio State. In his five starts, Jackson took 298 snaps and earned 10 knockdowns. He was also named Spartan Offensive Lineman of the Week against Eastern Michigan.

Marcus Rush: Nagurski watch list

Junior defensive end Rush started every game his redshirt freshman and sophomore year at defensive end. In 2012, Rush was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection and ranked second amongst MSU defensive linemen with 38 tackles.

Isaiah Lewis: Thorpe watch list

In his past two seasons at starting safety, Lewis has accumulated 169 tackles and six interceptions in 40 career starts. Lewis set a career high for tackles in 2012 with 80 tackles and led the team with six tackles on special teams.

Mike Sadler: Ray Guy watch list

Sadler is currently sixth all-time at MSU with a career average of 42.4 yards per punt. Sadler was also a 2012 first-team All-Big Ten selection by coaches and earned Academic All-American honors two years consecutively, maintaining a 4.0 GPA while double majoring in applied engineering sciences and supply chain management.

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