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Every Illinois football player named to preseason watch list for a national award

The National College Football Awards Association began rolling out its college football watch lists on Monday, July 28, and multiple members of the Illinois football team are among the preseason honor lists.

Here is a look at the Illini players on the watch lists. We will update this as more are announced.

Luke Altmyer, Maxwell Award

The senior quarterback was on the 80-member listing for the Maxwell Award, which goes annually to the top player in the game. Last season, Altmyer threw for 2,717 yards and 22 touchdowns with only six interceptions, while igniting the Fighting Illini to a 10-3 record. The honorable mention all-Big Ten Conference pick added 217 rushing yards and four touchdowns for the Citrus Bowl champions.

Gabe Jacas, Nagurski Trophy | Lott IMPACT Trophy

The senior edge rusher was among 60 players on the preseason watch list for the 2025 Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which honors the top defensive player in the nation. He also is one of 42 named on the list for the Lott IMPACT Trophy, named after former NFL defensive back Ronnie Lott — calling itself the “only major defensive college football award that considers character.”

Jacas is one of the nation’s top pass rushers, expected to be one selected among the first few rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-3, 275-pounder was a third-team all-Big Ten pick in 2024 with 74 tackles (13 for loss), eight sacks and 10 quarterback hits.

Xavier Scott, Nagurski Trophy | Jim Thorpe Award

The senior defensive back was among 60 players on the preseason watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which honors the top defensive player in the nation. He also is one of 35 named on the list for the Jim Thorpe Award, handed out annually to the top defensive back in college football.

Scott is an all-Big Ten first-team defensive back who was a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award as one of the top 15 defensive backs in college football. He started all 13 games at cornerback for Illinois in 2024. He also earned Phil Steele All-America honorable mention honors.

J.C. Davis, Outland Trophy

The senior offensive tackle was one of 50 players named to the preseason watch list for the Outland Trophy, given annually to the top lineman in college football. Davis, a 6-foot-5, 320-pound offensive tackle, was an all-Big Ten Conference pick last season and was named to the preseason all-league team by Phil Steele and Athlon. He has started in 37 consecutive games, dating back to his time at New Mexico. The list includes 16 offensive tackles, 15 guards and nine centers, along with 10 defensive tackles.

Kenenna Odeluga, Wuerffel Trophy

The senior linebacker and Chicago native is one of 111 players on the list for the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy, presented to the player who “best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement,” according to the Wuerffel Foundation. It is named after philanthropist Danny Wuerffel, a former all-American quarterback at Florida.

Hank Beatty, Paul Hornung Award

The Rochester grad and senior is a receiver and all-America punt returner. He is one of 46 players on the preseason watch list for the Paul Hornung Award, given annually to the most versatile player in major college football. It is named after former Notre Dame player Paul Hornung. Beatty was an all-BIg Ten pick last season and named all-America by Phil Steele. He led the Big Ten in punt return average and was No. 4 nationally; his 310 punt return yards were second all-time in Illinois history for a single season.

2025 college football preseason watch list calendar

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Illinois football: Every Illini on preseason watch list for national award

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