Aug. 12, 2009

University of Illinois senior guard Jon Asamoah and junior receiver Arrelious Benn have been named to watch lists for national awards in their respective positions. Asamoah is on the 40-man list for the Outland Trophy, while Benn is one of 37 players up for the Bilietnikoff Award.

Asamoah is a three-year starting guard for the Illini, and has been a part of two of the school's most prolific offenses. In 2007, the squad led the Big Ten in rushing and broke the school record for most rushing yards in a season, posting over 3,000 for the first time. The line blocked for running back and Big Ten Player of the Year Rashard Mendenhall, who later was a first-round NFL draft selection. A year later, in 2008, the offensive line assisted in the league's top passing offense, averaging 269.3 yards per game. Illinois' quarterback Juice Williams was tops in the Big Ten in both passing and total offense and ranked eighth in rushing. In both seasons, Illinois topped the 5,000-yard total offense mark.

Benn, a consensus All-American in all preseason publications, is considered one of the best receivers in the country. He passed the 1,000-yard mark as a sophomore on 67 catches, averaging 15.7 yards per catch. He has started and caught a pass in every game of his career, including a true-freshmen season in which he was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Benn also is instrumental in the run game and special teams. In two seasons, he has compiled 2,782 all-purpose yards, an average of 111.3 per game over his career.

The Outland Trophy, presented annually since 1946, is the third-oldest award in major college football, while the Biletnikoff Award was founded in 1994.

Both awards' winners will be announced on Dec. 10 at The Home Depot/ESPNU College Football Awards Show at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. The broadcast is preceded by the ESPNU Red Carpet Show at 6 p.m. ET on ESPNU.

2009 Outland Trophy Watch list
Jon Asamoah, Illinois, G
Geno Atkins, Georgia, DT
Zane Beadles, Utah, OL
Ciron Black, LSU, OT
Bryan Bulaga, Iowa, OT
Jeff Byers, USC, G
Brandon Carter, Texas Tech, G
Nick Charles, Air Force, G
Terrence Cody, Alabama, DT
Anthony Davis, Rutgers, OT
Chris Fisher, Louisiana-Lafayette, C
Kurtis Gregory, Missouri, G
Chris Hall, Texas, C
Mike Iupati, Idaho, OL
John Jerry, Ole Miss, OT
Mike Johnson, Alabama, OL
Arthur Jones, Syracuse, DT
Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma, DT
Josh McNeil, Tennessee, C
Andre Neblett, Temple, NT
Kristofer O'Dowd, USC, C
Jared Odrick, Penn State, DT
Vince Oghobaase, Duke, DT
Russell Okung, Oklahoma State, OT
Jeff Owens, Georgia, DT
Mike Pouncey, Florida, OL
Maurkice Pouncey, Florida, C
Brian Price, UCLA, DT
Sergio Render, Virginia Tech, G
Boo Robinson, Wake Forest, NG
Malcolm Sheppard, Arkansas, DT
D'Anthony Smith, Louisiana Tech, DT
Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska, DT
Matt Tennant, Boston College, C
Torrell Troup, UCF, DT
Adam Ulatoski, Texas, OT
J.D. Walton, Baylor, C
Trent Williams, Oklahoma, OT
Stefen Wisniewski, Penn State, C
Sam Young, Notre Dame, OT

2009 Biletnikoff Trophy Watch list
Kris Adams, UTEP
Seyi Ajirotutu, Fresno State
Brandon Banks, Kansas State
Doug Beaumont, Louisville
Arrelious Benn, Illinois
Dezmon Briscoe, Kansas
Antonio Brown, Central Michigan
DeAndre Brown, Southern Miss
Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma
Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State
Tyron Carrier, Houston
Eric Decker, Minnesota
Jacoby Ford, Clemson
Cortez Gent, Florida Atlantic
Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati
AJ Green, Georgia
Rashaun Greer, Colorado State
DeAndre Goodwin, Washington
T.Y. Hilton, FIU
Shay Hodge, Ole Miss
Jerrel Jernigan, Troy
Demaris Johnson, Tulsa
Julio Jones, Alabama
Brandon LaFell, LSU
Detron Lewis, Texas Tech
Kerry Meier, Kansas
Dennis Pitta, BYU
Taylor Price, Ohio
Aldrick Robinson, SMU
Naaman Roosevelt, Buffalo
Greg Salas, Hawaii
Jordan Shiply, Texas
Jacory Stone, Eastern Michigan
Golden Tate, Notre Dame
Damian Williams, USC
Stephen Williams, Toledo
Ryan Wolfe, UNLV