Gophers tight end Maxx Williams on Tuesday was named to John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List. The Mackey Award goes to the nation's top tight end. Williams was among 40 tight ends named to the preseason watch list, including five others from the Big Ten: Kyle Carter and Jesse James from Penn State, Jeff Heuerman from Ohio State and Tyler Kroft from Rutgers.
Gophers center Tommy Olson was among 66 centers named to the Rimington Trophy Preseason Watch List. Other nominees from the Big Ten include Austin Blythe (Iowa), Betim Bujari (Rutgers), Sal Conaboy (Maryland), Robert Kugler (Purdue), Jack Allen (Michigan State), Mark Pelini (Nebraska), Collin Rahrig (Indiana), Brandon Vitabile, (Northwestern) and Dan Voltz (Wisconsin).
