Oklahoma's Ethan Downs, Danny Stutsman Make Prestigious Midseason Watch List
NORMAN — Two Oklahoma defenders landed on a prestigious college football watch list on Tuesday.
Linebacker Danny Stutsman and defensive end Ethan Downs were among the 100 players identified for the Lombardi Award midseason watch list.
The 6-foot-4, 236-pound Stutsman, a junior from Windermere, FL, leads the Sooners in total defensive snaps played with 354 as well as tackles with 58 (Jaren Kanak is next with 35). Stutsman, a two-year starter, also leads OU with 10.5 tackles for loss at the midway point of the season (Downs is next with 5.0).
The 6-4, 265-pound Downs, a junior from Weatherford, OK, leads OU with 3.5 quarterback sacks (including two in the Sooners’ win over Texas). Downs ranks eighth among OU defenders with 17 total tackles and is tied for fifth on the defense with 233 snaps this season.
Stutsman earned honorable mention All-Big 12 last year as he led the conference and ranked fifth nationally with 125 total tackles, including 10.5 TFLs in 13 games (his same total so far this year through six games).
Downs was named second-team All-Big 12 last year when he compiled 38 total tackles, including a team-high 13.5 TFLs and 4.5 sacks.
To be eligible for the Lombardi Award, players must play on the line or at linebacker on defense or offensive line on offense.
A total of 16 Big 12 players made the midseason watch list, which ranks second to the Big Ten (20) and is tied with the SEC (16) and just ahead of the ACC (15) and Pac-12 (13).
Semifinalists for this year's award will be announced on Nov. 1, and four finalists will be revealed on Nov. 15.
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