Paul Earns Outland Trophy Watch List Status

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HOUSTON – University of Houston junior Patrick Paul has been named to the 2023 Outland Trophy preseason watch list, recognizing the nation's outstanding returning interior linemen, the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) announced Tuesday.
The Big 12 Conference has 10 players on the list spread among nine different schools, including one each from its four new members. There are 31 offensive tackles on this year's list with 24 defensive tackles and 24 guards to go with 12 centers. Paul is one of four offensive tackles from a program in Texas on the coveted list. A full list of Houston Football preseason honors can be found here.
The accolade is the latest for Paul entering the 2023 season. The Jersey Village High School product has been named Preseason All-Big 12 Conference by Phil Steele (First Team), Athlon Sports (Second Team) and Pro Football Focus (Third Team). Paul is ranked as the No. 2 Best Returning Offensive Lineman in Texas by Dave Campbell's Texas Football.
Paul became the first Cougar offensive lineman in more than a decade to earn multiple postseason first-team all-league honors, doing so as a First-Team All-American Athletic Conference member in 2021 and again in 2022. Paul was the nation's No. 2-graded pass blocker among tackles by PFF (91.1) a season ago and allowed just one sack in 565 opportunities.
The recipient of the 2023 Outland Trophy will be announced on The Home Depot College Football Awards, live on ESPN in December. The official presentation to the winner will be made at the Outland Trophy Awards Dinner sponsored by Werner Enterprises and produced by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee in Omaha, Neb., on Jan. 10, 2024.
The Outland Trophy winner is chosen from three finalists who are a part of the annual FWAA All-America Team. The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the entire membership, selects a 26-man first team and eventually the three Outland finalists. Committee members, then by individual ballot, select the winner. Only interior linemen on offense or defense are eligible for the award; ends are not eligible.
The Outland Trophy, celebrating 78 years since its founding, is the third-oldest major college football award. Created in 1946 when Dr. John Outland presented the FWAA with a financial contribution to initiate the award, the Outland Trophy has been given to the best interior lineman in college football ever since.
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