Watch Lists: Auburn's Pettway, Stidham, Matthews, Carlson recognized

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July 10, 2017

By Christian Page
AuburnTigers.com

AUBURN, Ala. - The National College Football Awards Association began announcing its 2017 preseason watch lists Monday with Auburn's Kamryn Pettway, Jarrett Stidham and Tray Matthews receiving preseason recognition.

Pettway and Stidham are on the Maxwell Award preseason watch list for the honor presented to college football's best player by the Maxwell Football Club.

Pettway burst onto the scene in 2016 leading the Southeastern Conference in rushing yards per game at 122.4. Pettway eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in his seventh game of the season with a 173-yard performance versus Vanderbilt. The 6-foot, 235-pound running back was voted first team All-SEC (AP, Athlon, Coaches, Phil Steele) and was a Doak Walker Award semifinalist last season.

Stidham, a sophomore quarterback, sat out last season after starting as a true freshman at Baylor in 2015.

Defensive back Tray Matthews is one of 85 preseason candidates for the Chuck Bednarik Award, presented to the college football defensive player of the year by the Maxwell Football Club. Matthews, a senior from Newnan, Ga., led Auburn with 76 tackles last season, starting every game at safety for the Tigers.

Auburn's Cam Newton won the Maxwell Award after his dominating 2010 campaign, making him the only Tiger to receive this trophy. Newton threw for 2,854 yards with 30 touchdowns and a 66 percent completion rate on his way to being a national champion. Newton led the SEC (15th in the country) in rushing with 1,473 yards on 264 attempts. He scored 20 rushing touchdowns, and added a TD reception, raising his season total to 51.

Newton also took home the Heisman Trophy in convincing fashion and received the Davey O'Brien and Walter Camp awards as well. Newton was the first Auburn player in school history to capture the O'Brien and Maxwell awards and the third Tiger to claim the Walter Camp National Player of the Year Award, joining Bo Jackson (1985) and Pat Sullivan (1971).

An Auburn player has yet to take home the Bednarik Award, though Carlos Rogers (2004) and Nick Fairley (2010) were both semifinalists for the prestigious trophy.

Senior kicker Daniel Carlson also received recognition, for community service, one of 146 nominees to the 2017 Allstate American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team.

Auburn's five previous Good Works Team members include Jonathan Wallace (2015), Philip Lutzenkirchen (2012), Will Herring (2005), Reggie Torbor (2003) and Haven Fields (1999).