Tennessee Volunteers Football: A.J. Johnson & Antonio Richardson Named To Two More Watch Lists
By Zach Ragan
Sep 15, 2012; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers linebacker A.J. Johnson (45) tackles Florida Gators tight end Omarius Hines (20) during the second half at Neyland Stadium. Florida won by a score of 37 to 20. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Week two of the college football pre-season watch list season began on Monday with the released of the Butkus Award watch list and the Lombardi award watch list.
Juniors A.J. Johnson and Antonio Richardson were both named to the Lombardi Award watch list.
Johnson was also named to the Butkus Award watch list.
The Lombardi award has been given out annually, since 1970, to the nations best lineman or linebacker. The award is of course named after legendary coach Vince Lombardi, and is awarded by the Rotary Club in Houston.
Tennessee has never had a Lombardi Award winner. The last SEC player to win the trophy was Auburn’s Nick Fairley in 2010.
The Butkus Award has been awarded to the nation’s best linebacker every year since 1985.
The Vols have also never had a Butkus Award winner. Alabama’s Rolando McClain was the last SEC player to win the award, in 2009.
Former Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o won both awards in 2012.
The pre-season watch lists will continue to be rolled out tomorrow, with the released of the Biletnikoff Award (wide receiver) watch list.
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