June 25, 2007
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ROSLYN, Pa. – Vanderbilt wide receiver Earl Bennett and linebacker Jonathan Goff were added Monday to preseason watchlists for a pair of prestigious college football awards.
Bennett, a product of West End High School in Birmingham, Ala., was one of 65 players named to the Maxwell Award watchlist. Goff, from St. John’s Preparatory near Boston, Mass., was named to the Bednarik Award watchlist, officials of the Maxwell Football Club announced Monday.
The Maxwell Award is given annually to the outstanding college football player. Former Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn captured the 70th Maxwell Trophy last year. The Bednarik Award is presented to the nation’s outstanding defensive player. Former Penn State linebacker Paul Posluszny received the Bednarik in 2005 and 2006.
Bennett, named to several preseason All-American teams, enters his junior season within reach of several Southeastern Conference career receiving marks. He needs 48 receptions to surpass the all-time conference mark and less than 1,100 yards to become the career leader in receiving yardage.
Goff, named last week to the Bronko Nagurski Award watchlist, is the third-leading active tackler in the SEC, and is listed among the nation’s top senior inside linebackers. He is a two-year Commodore co-captain and three-year starter.
A third Commodore, senior offensive tackle Chris Williams was named to the Outland Trophy watchlist last week.
Bennett was one of 14 offensive players with SEC connections named to the Maxwell watchlist. Four other receivers from the league – Andre Caldwell of Florida, Early Doucet of LSU, D.J. Hall of Alabama and Marcus Monk of Arkansas – joined Bennett on the list. Goff was one of 10 SEC defensive standouts listed as early candidates for the Bednarik Trophy. The list includes three other SEC linebackers: Jasper Brinkley of South Carolina, Ali Highsmith of LSU and Wesley Woodyard of Kentucky.
Bennett became Vanderbilt’s first All-America recipient in seven years last year after catching 82 passes for 1,146 yards and six touchdowns as a sophomore. The receptions total topped the SEC and ranked among the top 10 nationally.
Bennett is the first receiver in conference history to amass at least 75 receptions in at least two seasons. He set a SEC freshman mark in 2005 with 79 receptions.
Last year, Goff ranked among SEC leaders in several defensive categories, concluding the campaign with a second team All-SEC selection by the coaches. He enters the 2007 season ranked third among active SEC defenders with 141 career total tackles, trailing only Kentucky senior linebacker Wesley Woodyard and Tennessee senior safety Jonathan Hefney. Goff also has started 28 consecutive games, the most of any current Commodore.
Semifinalists for the Maxwell and Bednarik Awards will be announced in early November and three finalists for each award will be announced Nov. 26. The Maxwell and Bednarik winners will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 6. The formal presentation of these awards will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala hosted by Harrah’s Entertainment Atlantic City in March 2008.
The watch list candidates have been chosen by the Maxwell Football Club’s Selection Committee and the Maxwell Club reserves the right to make additions and subtractions to these lists as the season unfolds. All members of the Maxwell Football Club, NCAA sports information directors, head coaches and selected national media are eligible to vote for these awards.
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