KU football 2023 preseason award watch list tracker: Jalon Daniels, Devin Neal recognized

LAWRENCE — As the beginning of the 2023 college football season continues to draw closer, players are going to see their names pop up on preseason watch lists for various awards.

Kansas football is coming off a year in 2022 in which it went 6-7 overall with an appearance in the Liberty Bowl. It’s primed, in the third year of head coach Lance Leipold’s tenure in Lawrence, to potentially take another step forward in 2023. And it should have a number of athletes recognized ahead of its Sept. 1 opener at home against Missouri State.

Here’s which Kansas players have been honored so far:

Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award preseason watch list includes Jalon Daniels

The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award is presented to the best upperclassmen or senior quarterback who is on track to graduate with their class, and Kansas junior quarterback Jalon Daniels is on its preseason watch list. Daniels has already been placed on a number of different noteworthy watch lists this fall. As of the list's Aug. 23 release, there are 48 athletes on the list.

College Football Comeback Player of the Year preseason watch list includes Daniel Hishaw Jr.

The College Football Comeback Player of the Year award is presented athletes who've overcome illness, injury or some other circumstance, and Kansas redshirt sophomore running back Daniel Hishaw Jr. is on its preseason watch list. Hishaw is also on the preseason watch list for the Doak Walker Award. Last season, a hip injury part of the way through the season led to him not playing the rest of the year.

Manning Award preseason watch list includes Jalon Daniels

The Manning Award is presented to the top quarterback in college football, and Kansas junior quarterback Jalon Daniels is on its preseason watch list. It's yet another preseason watch list that Daniels is a part of. As of the list's Aug. 15 release, there are 33 athletes on the list.

Chuck Bednarik Award preseason watch list includes Cobee Bryant

The Chuck Bednarik Award is presented college football's top defensive players, and Kansas junior cornerback Cobee Bryant is on its preseason watch list. It's the latest preseason watch list that Bryant has found himself on. After breaking out a year ago, Bryant has become one of the faces of the Jayhawks' defense.

Walter Camp Player of the Year preseason watch list includes Jalon Daniels

The Walter Camp Player of the Year award is presented to the top player in college football, and Kansas junior quarterback Jalon Daniels is on its preseason watch list. It's an honor that represents another look at the expectations for Daniels this season. As of the list's Aug. 11 release, there are 45 athletes on the list.

Jim Thorpe Award preseason watch list includes Cobee Bryant

The Jim Thorpe Award is presented to the best defensive back in college football, and Kansas junior cornerback Cobee Bryant is on its preseason watch list. The award winner is determined by their character, athletic ability and play on the field. As of the list's Aug. 10 release, there are 35 athletes on the list.

Doak Walker Award preseason watch list includes Devin Neal, Daniel Hishaw Jr.

The Doak Walker Award is presented to the best running back in the country, and Kansas junior running back Devin Neal and redshirt sophomore running back Daniel Hishaw Jr. are both on its preseason watch list. When healthy, they can provide one of the best running back duos in the nation. As of the list's Aug. 9 release, there are 75 athletes on the list.

Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award preseason watch list includes Jalon Daniels

The Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award is presented to the top quarterback in college football, and Kansas junior quarterback Jalon Daniels is on its preseason watch list. Daniels continue to find his way onto preseason watch lists ahead of the season opener. As of the list's Aug. 8 release, there are 35 athletes on the list.

John Mackey Award preseason watch list includes Mason Fairchild

The John Mackey Award is presented to the best tight end in college football, and Kansas senior tight end Mason Fairchild is on its preseason watch list. Fairchild is an All-Big 12 Conference caliber talent for the Jayhawks. As of the list's Aug. 4 release, there are 48 athletes on the list.

Rimington Trophy preseason watch list includes Mike Novitsky

The Rimington Trophy is presented to the top center in Division I college football, and Kansas redshirt senior offensive lineman Mike Novitsky is on its preseason watch list. Novitsky is on it for the third time in his Jayhawks career and fourth time overall — dating back to his time at Buffalo. As of its Aug. 4 release, there are 40 athletes on the list.

Paul Hornung Award preseason watch list includes Kenny Logan Jr.

The Paul Hornung Award is presented to major college football's most versatile player, and Kansas senior safety Kenny Logan Jr. is on its preseason watch list. Logan is on it for a third-straight year. As of its Aug. 3 release, there are 53 athletes on the list.

Wuerffel Trophy preseason watch list includes Jalon Daniels

The Wuerffel Trophy is presented to a FBS-level athlete in college football who serves others and showcases leadership both on and off the field. The honor was established in 2005. As of its Aug. 3 release, there are 110 athletes on the list.

Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award preseason watch list includes Seth Keller

The Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award is presented to the nation's top place-kicker, and Kansas redshirt senior kicker Seth Keller is on its preseason watch list. Keller is on it for a second-straight year, as the Texas State transfer was also on it in 2022. As of its Aug. 2 release, there are 30 athletes on the list.

Bronko Nagurski Trophy preseason watch list includes Cobee Bryant

The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is presented to the defensive national player of the year, and Kansas junior cornerback Cobee Bryant is on its preseason watch list. Bryant is the first Jayhawks player to earn a spot on the watch list since Daniel Wise was on it in 2018. As of its Aug. 1 release, there are 94 athletes on the list.

Maxwell Award preseason watch list includes Jalon Daniels, Devin Neal

The Maxwell Award is presented to the top player in college football, and Kansas junior quarterback Jalon Daniels and junior running back Devin Neal are each on its preseason watch list. Daniels and Neal are the first Jayhawks to earn a spot on the watch list since Pooka Williams back in 2020. As of its July 31 release, the list included 85 players and 16 schools had multiple athletes on it.

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Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He is the National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas for 2022. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: KU football 2023 preseason award watch list tracker: Maxwell Award