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WSU, Idaho linemen added to CFB award preseason watch lists

UCLA Bruins running back Nate Starks (23) is brought down by Washington State Cougars defensive lineman Hercules Mata
UCLA Bruins running back Nate Starks (23) is brought down by Washington State Cougars defensive lineman Hercules Mata'afa (50) during the first half of a PAC 12 college football game on Saturday, Oct 15, 2016, Martin Stadium in Pullman, Wash. (Tyler Tjomsland / The Spokesman-Review)Buy a print of this photo
From staff and wire reports

Washington State defensive lineman Hercules Mata’afa and offensive lineman Cody O’Connell were named to preseason watch lists for the Bronco Nagurski and Outland Trophy, respectively, the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) announced on Thursday.

Mata’afa was named to the Bronco Nagurski Trophy watch list, given to the nation’s Defensive Player of the Year while O’Connell was named to the Outland Trophy watch list (given to the nation’s best lineman) after being a finalist for the award last season.

Mata’afa earned All-Pac-12 second team after finishing fifth in the league with 13.5 tackles including a team-high five sacks last season. Mata’afa was also named to the Bednarik Award watch list – given to the country’s top defensive player – earlier this week.

O’Connell was a unanimous All-American last season and was rated the second-best offensive linemen in the country in 2016 by Pro Football Focus.

Idaho’s Aikeem Coleman was also named to the Nagurski watch list. Coleman took home the Sun Belt Conference Newcomer of the Year award last season after leading the Vandals in tackles for loss and sacks. His eight sacks were also the fourth most in the conference.