The Daily's preseason watch list: Mackey Award, Rimington Trophy

Starting July 9, the National College Football Awards Association will start releasing preseason watch lists for its various awards, releasing one or two a day for 10 days.

We here at The Daily are going to release our own watch lists over the next nine days, then compare our picks to the association's.

Today, we are revealing our picks for the Mackey Award, presented to the nation's most outstanding tight end, and the Rimington Trophy, awarded to the nation's premier center.

MACKEY AWARD

Dillon Phillips, assistant sports editor: Jacob Pedersen, Wisconsin

Jacob Pedersen was a second-team All-Big Ten selection and semifinalist for the Mackey Award last year. Although Pedersen caught only 30 passes, almost one-third of those catches were touchdown grabs. Pedersen is an invaluable offensive threat in the red zone and can also make an impact with his hand in the dirt in Wisconsin’s run-heavy system.

Kedric Kitchens, sports editor: Tyler Eifert, Notre Dame

Tyler Eifert is the best pass-catching tight end in the country. In 2011, Eifert was the second-leading receiver for the Fighting Irish — behind 13th overall NFL Draft pick Michael Floyd — with 63 catches for 803 yards and five touchdowns. Eifert provides little in the ways of pass blocking, but he is an elite receiver in the style of former Mackey Award winners Kellen Winslow or Aaron Hernandez.

Tobi Neidy, senior football writer: Joseph Fauria, UCLA

Notre Dame could have two of the top tight ends in college football right now, but the Fighting Irish let senior Joseph Fauria slip off to join the Bruins in 2009. And so far, Fauria has made a lasting impact for the UCLA offense. The 6-foot-7, 258 pound tight end was second on the team last season with 39 receptions for 481 yards and six scoring receptions, the most scoring receptions for any Bruin player since 2005. Another factor that will make Fauria a player to watch this season is that he will most likely see more playing time with the departure of fellow tight end Cory Harkey to the NFL.

RIMINGTON TROPHY

Phillips: Travis Frederick, Wisconsin

Travis Frederick was a second-team All-Big Ten selection last season, as he anchored one of the nation’s best offensive lines on a team that finished eighth in the country in rushing. At 6-foot-4, 328 pounds, Frederick has impressive size for an interior lineman, especially at the center position — where mobility and agility are of paramount importance — and looks to play a crucial role in the continuing success of a team know for its smash-mouth, power running game.

Kitchens: Hroniss Grasu, Oregon

The Oregon Ducks were fifth in the nation a year ago in rushing, averaging just under 300 yards per game. That was in large part due to a strong offensive line anchored by then redshirt freshman Hroniss Grasu. Grasu was a second team All-Freshman selection and with the steady stream of incredible runners that are flowing into Oregon, he will have a real chance to impress.

Neidy: Ben Habern, Oklahoma

As the starting center for OU in 14 games during the 2010 season, senior Ben Habern led offensive linemen with 1,070 snaps and 123 knockdowns to become an All-Big 12 honorable mention. Perhaps the only negative about this 6-foot-4, 292 pound senior is his injury record, including two season-ending mishaps during his first two years as a Sooner. But if Habern can stay healthy and continue to perform that the level he did during the 2010 season, look for Habern to be mentioned with the likes of the top centers in the league.

Sports Desk

Sports is a former staff member of The Oklahoma Daily who worked as