Another Monday, another watchlist

Have you reached "watchlist" burnout yet? No? Good, here's two more.

Here is Iowa defensive tackle Karl Klug on the Outland Trophy watchlist. (He's joined by ISU center Ben Lamaak, a Cedar Rapids Kennedy grad).

Klug, 6-4, 270, was sort of the surprise on the D-line last season. You figured Adrian Clayborn would do some damage. Christian Ballard had a resume, eventhough he moved inside to tackle. Broderick Binns was also sort of a mystery, but he showed some in 2008 to make you believe something was there.

Klug sat behind Matt Kroul and Mitch King. He turned out to be a motor, with 13 tackles for loss and four sacks.

(Odd fact about Klug: He's from Caledonia, Minn., which bills itself as the "turkey hunting capital of Minnesota." Klug, an avid outdoorsman, has never gone turkey hunting. Squirrel, yes. Turkey, no. Also, he's a big catfish angler. Flatheads are good eating.)

The Outland goes to the best interior lineman in the nation. Nebraska DT Ndamakong Suh won it last season. Iowa OT Robert Gallery won the award in 2003.

Here are Clayborn and strong safety Tyler Sash on the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list.

This award is given out by the Charlotte Touchdown Club. Maybe they can make a better Cy-Hawk Trophy?

And, of course, it wouldn't be a Tyler Sash post without . . .

(Actually, I've heard that Sash was pointing to a couple ISU pals from Osky who were in that end zone wearing "Sash is trash" T-shirts. I might be wrong on that, but that's what I've heard. I do remember the T-shirts. And "Osky" is the nickname for Sash's hometown Oskaloosa. I lived in Ottumwa, about a half hour south, so I get to say that.)

From the UI sports info:

HAWKEYES GAIN PRE-SEASON FB HONORS

IOWA CITY, IA – Pre-season honors and expectations continue to mount for the 2010 Iowa football team. The most recent honors involve members of the Hawkeye defensive unit, expected to be one of the nation's best.

Senior defensive tackle Karl Klug has been named to the prestigious 2010 Outland Trophy Watch List. Klug, a 6-4, 270-pounder from Caledonia, MN, was a 2009 first-team all-Big Ten choice by Sporting News. He started all 13 games for the Hawkeyes last season and totaled 65 tackles. He had 13 tackles for loss (-40 yards) and four quarterback sacks.

The Outland Trophy goes to the top down lineman (offensive and defensive tackles, offensive guards and centers). Three former Hawkeyes have previously won the Outland Trophy. They are Calvin Jones (1955), Alex Karras (1957) and Robert Gallery (2003).

Defensive end Adrian Clayborn and defensive back Tyler Sash have been named to the watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, given annually to the nation's top defensive player.

Clayborn has been named to virtually every pre-season all-America team. He was today named to the Sporting News first pre-season all-America team. The 6-4, 285 senior from St. Louis, MO, was named 2009 Defensive Performer of the Year by the College Football Performance Award group. He was previously named to the 2010 Playboy all-America team. He was MVP in Iowa's win over Georgia Tech in the 2010 FedEx Orange Bowl. He had 70 tackles last season and was a first team all-Big Ten choice.

Sash is a 6-1, 210 pound junior safety from Oskaloosa. He has started 21 straight games and has 138 career tackles. He was named to the AP third all-America team last year. He was also a first team all-Big Ten choice last season. Sash has totaled 350 return yards (an Iowa record) on 11 career interceptions. Sash was also today named to the Sporting News second pre-season all-America squad.

Both Sash and Clayborn are also on the 2010 Lott Trophy watch list.

And, finally, Blue Ribbon Magazine, a football publication, has ranked the Hawkeyes eighth in its pre-season rankings. The Hawkeyes have been ranked as high as fifth nationally (Sports Illustrated) and are in the top 20 of virtually every pre-season ranking.