Yesterday, the Maxwell Award announced its watchlist for the 2025 season. The list was headlined by none other than Jeremiah Smith. Today, the Outland Trophy (the best interior lineman) and the Bronco Nagurski Trophy (the defensive player of the year) announced their watchlist for 2025.
Of course, some great Buckeyes are going to be up for these awards. Caleb Downs, the best defender in the nation, and Sonny Styles are both up for the Nagurski Award. Offensive lineman Tegra Tshabola and defensive lineman Eddrick Houston are up for the Outland Award.
Caleb Downs and Sonny Styles were already named to the Lott Impact Trophy watchlist. Now they're both up for the Nagurski Award. Previous Buckeyes to bring home this award are James Laurinaitis in 2006 and Chase Young in 2019. Now, Laurinaitis will help Styles vie for the award as the Buckeyes' current linebacker coach.
Styles had 100 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss, and six sacks last year. But Downs had 82 tackles, eight tackles for a loss, two interceptions, and never allowed a touchdown to be scored on him all year. Downs also has the potential advantage to score more touchdowns should Ohio State continue to have him return punts.
Tegra Tshabola and Eddrick Houston are up for the Outland Trophy, which has been won by Buckeye legends such as Jim Parker (1956), Jim Stillwagon (1970), John Hicks (1973), and the greatest offensive lineman of all time, Orlando Pace (1996).
I'm a little surprised that Tshabola's fellow offensive lineman, Carson Hinzman, isn't on the list. Hinzman and Tshabola will be the anchors for Ohio State's offensive line this fall, along with Austin Seierveld. Defensive tackle Eddrick Houston is a little bit more of an unknown as far as stats go, but Buckeye fans know how well he can play. He did a great job last year coming off the bench for first-round draft pick Tyleik Williams.