Football players to watch this season

As daily temperatures break 100 degrees for weeks at a time across Texas, the expectations for the 2011 A&M football season are heating up to blistering levels with seven Aggies being named to collegiate award watch lists.

Receiver Jeff Fuller, running back Cyrus Gray and quarterback Ryan Tannehill were named to the 2011 Maxwell Award Watch List, announced by The Maxwell Football Club. The three seniors are among 66 players on the list compiled by a committee that judges players' previous performances and potential for the upcoming season.

Tannehill made the list after becoming a household name to the Twelfth Man in his junior season. After splitting snaps the first half of the season with senior Jerrod Johnson, Tannehill threw for a school record 449 yards against Texas Tech in his first career start. He went on to throw for 1306 yards, going for 10 touchdowns and three interceptions. Tannehill seems to have an edge as quarterbacks have won the award every year since 2000 except for the 2002 season, when Penn State running back Larry Johnson won it.

Gray also made a name for himself last season and could become the second running of this millennium to receive the award. Similar to Tannehill, Gray started the 2010 season as a backup but went on to have seven consecutive 100-yard rushing games, including a physical 223-yard performance against Texas. Gray also showed a flash of his quarterback days from DeSoto High School when he threw for a touchdown in the Cotton Bowl to wideout Jeff Fuller.

Fuller withdrew from the NFL Draft considerations after his record-breaking 2010 season, making him a strong candidate for the Maxwell. Fuller passed Bob Long's record 20 career touchdown receptions against Oklahoma State and pushed the record to 28 by the end of the season. He will have to better his 2010 performance to win the award however, as a receiver hasn't won the award since Michigan returner/receiver Desmond Howard did in 1991.

Fuller, Gray and Tannehill were also named to the inaugural Pony Express Award watch list, presented to the most outstanding pair or trio. The award was created by former SMU running backs Eric Dickerson and Craig James to recognize the college football's best tandem on either side of the ball.

Fuller was joined by junior receiver Ryan Swope on the watch list for the 2011 Biletnikoff Award, given to the best receiver in college football each season by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation.

Fuller was a semifinalist for the award in 2010 while Swope made the list for the first time in his career. Each caught a school record 72 passes last season to become the most productive receiving duo in school history with a combined 144 catches. Fuller became the first 1000-yard receiver in Aggie history after gaining 1066 yards, and broke his own school record with 12 touchdowns in 2010. Swope went for 825 yards from the slot, ranking him sixth in school history. It seems a winner is in the making as the dynamic duo is coached by 1999 Biletnikoff winner Troy Walters.

Senior corner Coryell Judie was named to the watch list for three collegiate level awards, including the Bednarik, Nagurski and College Football Performance Awards. He transferred to A&M before last season, and exploded on the scene with his electrifying versatility as a defender and returner.

The Bednarik is presented to college football's most outstanding defensive player by The Maxwell Football Club. If named the winner, Judie would join Aggie great Dat Nguyen as the second Aggie to win the award.

The Nagurski is given to the best defensive player in college football by the Football Writers Association of America. He accumulated 57 tackles, eight broken up passes and four interceptions in 2010, all while averaging 30.2 yards on 20 kickoff returns with two touchdowns.

Judie's performance last season also earned him a spot on the College Football Performance Awards watch list for kickoff return and defensive back. Fellow Aggies making the lists were Dustin Harris (punt return and defensive back), Damontre Moore (linebacker), Ryan Tannehill (quarterback), Cyrus Gray (running back), Jeff Fuller (receiver) and Ryan Swope (receiver).

Senior kicker Randy Bullock was named to the Lou Groza Award watch list, presented to the most outstanding placekicker by the Palm Beach Sports Commission each season. Bullock booted 16-21 field goals through the uprights for 98 total points in 2010 and looks to improve in his senior campaign.