AUBURN, Ala. – For the second straight year, Auburn defensive lineman Derrick Brown has been named to the Outland Trophy watch list. This year, he's joined by teammate and offensive lineman Prince Wanogho. The Auburn duo is on the list of 83 players that was announced Tuesday by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA).
The Outland Trophy honors the top interior lineman in college football every season and will continue to be selected by the FWAA membership.
Brown has also been selected to preseason watch lists for the Bednarik Award, the Nagurski Trophy and the Lott IMPACT Trophy. The senior has been a starter the past two seasons and currently has 115 career tackles, 21 tackles for loss and nine sacks over 40 games going back to his freshman year.
"Derrick Brown – some project him as a first round pick – chose to come back," Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn said last week at SEC Media Days. "When he chose to come back, it really started the rest of them to do the same."
"Very well-rounded young man. Jason Witten Man of the Year finalist last year. Wuerffel Trophy nominee. SEC Student-Athlete Leadership Council, member of the SEC Community Service Team, and president of SAAC. Derrick is projected or will graduate in December, and I think that had a lot to do with him coming back."
Wanogho, who started every game at left tackle season, was recently voted All-SEC First Team by the media. He, too, had the opportunity to turn pro but opted to return to Auburn for his senior season.
"A very athletic young man," Malzahn said. "He came as a defensive end. We switched him to tackle about three-and-a-half years ago, and he started for the last two-and-a-half years and plays that left tackle position. He's projected as a high draft pick himself."
This year's Outland Trophy winner will be announced during ESPN's The Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 12, live from the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta. The official presentation to the winner will be made at the NFID Outland Trophy Awards Dinner on Jan. 15. Up to eight semifinalists will be named on Nov. 20 in Omaha, and the three finalists for the award will be announced on Nov. 25.
Auburn has had two Outland Trophy winners in its history (Zeke Smith – 1958, Track Rocker – 1988).