Football Preseason Watch Lists
August 01, 2023 | Football
Christian Mahogany (Lombardi) and Donovan Ezeiruaku (Bednarik) round out the preseason watch lists.
LOMBARDI AWARD
CHRISTIAN MAHOGANY
OL | Graduate | Elmwood, N.J.
The 50th Annual Lombardi Award™ continues the Lombardi legacy by honoring the Outstanding College Football Lineman – offense or defense, who in addition to outstanding performance and ability, best exemplifies the character and discipline of Vince Lombardi.
Mahogany, a preseason All-ACC and All-America pick, garnered his second preseason watch list honor of 2023 as a member of the Rotary Lombardi Award watch list.
A former All-ACC pick in 2021, Mahogany returns to the field after missing 2022 due to injury. With 22 career starts under his belt, he is expected to start at right guard in his graduate season.
BEDNARIK AWARD
DONOVAN EZEIRUAKU
DE | Junior | Williamstown, N.J.
The Chuck Bednarik Award is presented annually to the defensive player in college football as judged by the Maxwell Football Club to be the best in the United States. The award is named for Chuck Bednarik, a former college and professional American football player. Voters for the Maxwell College Awards are NCAA head college football coaches, members of the Maxwell Football Club, and sportswriters and sportscasters from across the country.
A preseason All-ACC selection, Ezeiruaku garnered his second watch list nod of the 2023 season with recognition from the Maxwell Football Club on the Bednarik Award Watch List.
Ezeiruaku was BC's leader in sacks a year ago; ranking fourth in the ACC in sacks (8.5) and tackles for loss (14.5).
DOAK WALKER AWARD
PAT GARWO III
RB | Graduate | Levittown, Pa.
The Doak Walker Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football’s most prestigious awards and its 24 awards have honored more than 900 recipients dating back to 1935. This season, 12 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday.
Garwo returns to the Doak Walker Award watch list for the second preseason in a row. He first appeared on the list after a 1,000-yard campaign in 2021 as he ascended to the top spot on the depth chart in week three of the season.
In 2022, Garwo was BC's leading rusher at 402 yards with three rushing touchdowns. He is the Eagles' top-returning receiver after posting career-highs with 29 receptions for 241 yards.
BILETNIKOFF AWARD
RYAN O'KEEFE
WR | Graduate | Austin, Texas
The Biletnikoff Award recognizes the college football season’s outstanding FBS receiver, regardless of position. Any player, regardless of position (wide receiver, tight end, split end, inside receiver, slot back or running back) who catches a pass is eligible for the award.
O'Keefe is a two-time member of the Biletnikoff Award watch list. He previously earned a spot ahead of the 2022 season as a senior at UCF, which followed his 2021 season that accounted for career-highs in receptions (84) and receiving yards (812).
The Austin, Texas native and Round Rock product, caught 84 passes as a junior, the second most in the league, and 73 as a senior. O'Keefe surpassed 1,000 all-purpose yards in each of the last two seasons; producing 725 receiving yards, 448 kick return yards and 222 rushing yards in 2022.
MACKEY AWARD
GEORGE TAKACS
TE | Graduate | Naples, Fla.
The Friends of John Mackey have released the 2023 John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List. Given annually to the most outstanding collegiate tight end, the award recipient is selected by vote of the John Mackey Award Selection Committee.
Takacs arrives at Boston College in 2022 as a graduate transfer from Notre Dame. Primarily used as a blocking tight end during his time in South Bend, Takacs immediately made an impact on the BC offense as a down-field, pass-catching threat in his first game. Against Rutgers, he set career-highs with seven catch for 84 yards; surpassing his career yardage total in four years at ND.
Takacs' 2022 season was hampered by injuries following week one, yet he was able to produce 256 receiving yards on 26 receptions, including one touchdown.
HORNUNG AWARD
RYAN O'KEEFE
WR | Graduate | Austin, Texas
The Paul Hornung Award is given annually by the Louisville Sports Commission (LSC) to the most versatile player in major college football. The Award was created by the LSC in January 2010 with the support of the Golden Boy himself, Paul Hornung, a native and lifelong resident of Louisville and member of the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame.
O'Keefe arrived at BC for the 2023 spring semester as a graduate transfer from Central Florida. A two-time All-American Athletic Conference selection, he previously played under current BC wide receivers coach Darrell Wyatt while with the Knights.
The Austin, Texas native and Round Rock product, caught 84 passes as a junior, the second most in the league, and 73 as a senior. O'Keefe surpassed 1,000 all-purpose yards in each of the last two seasons; producing 725 receiving yards, 448 kick return yards and 222 rushing yards in 2022.
WUERFFEL TROPHY
TAJI JOHNSON
WR | Senior | Powder Springs, Ga.
College Football’s Premier Award for Community Service, and one of the most meaningful awards in collegiate sports, The Wuerffel Trophy is named after Danny Wuerffel, the 1996 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback from the University of Florida who parlayed his success on the football field into a lifetime of service.
Johnson is one of 108 candidates nominated for the Wuerffel Trophy across college football. He is a repeat candidate after appearing on the watch list in 2022.
On the Heights, he is active in BC athletics' student-run Eagles For Equality group as a committee member.Johnson is also the president of the Black Male Initiative to provide a voice for the unheard. He and the BMI group have hosted two cookout and basketball tournaments to bring together different on-campus groups during the spring semester since 2022.
OUTLAND TROPHY
CHRISTIAN MAHOGANY
OL | Graduate | Elmwood, N.J.
The Outland Trophy is awarded by the FWAA to college football's best interior lineman on offense or defense. The Outland Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football's most prestigious awards.
Mahogany missed the entirety of the 2022 season due to injury and returns to anchor the BC offensive line from the guard position after earning All-ACC Second Team recognition as a redshirt-sophomore in 2021. Despite being ruled out for the 2022 season, he was still honored as a Preseason All-ACC pick by the league's media.
Mahogany, who has 22 starts under his belt from 2020 and 2021, was selected as a Preseason All-American by Phil Steele.
BRONKO NAGURSKI TROPHY
DONOVAN EZEIRUAKU
DE | Junior | Williamstown, N.J.
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy has been awarded annually since 1993 to the collegiate American football defensive player adjudged by the membership of the Football Writers Associate of America to be the best in the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
Ezeiruaku dominated the edge in his first season as a starter in 2022. He posted 8.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss; both the most by an Eagle since 2018. He ranked fourth in the ACC in both categories.
As a freshman in 2021, Ezeiruaku came off the bench in 10 games to record three sacks and two TFLs.
ALLSTATE AFCA GOOD WORKS TEAM
TAJI JOHNSON
WR | Senior | Powder Spring, Ga.
The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team was established in 1992 by the College Football Association, recognizing the extra efforts made by college football players and student support staff off the field. AFCA became the governing body of the award in 1997 and continues to honor college football players who go the extra mile for those in need. Allstate worked to present the award starting with the 2008 season.
Johnson is one of 136 student-athletes from across college football to be nominated for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. The 22-member team honors individuals who go above and beyond in play, school and their communities.
Johnson repeats as a nominee for the Good Works Team after being nominated in 2022. For the second consecutive year, Johnson is also representing Boston College as a participant in the ACC Unity Week service trip, which this year is in Washington, D.C. from Juy 10-12.
On the Heights, he is active in BC athletics' student-run Eagles For Equality group as a committee member. Johnson is also the president of the Black Male Initiative to provide a voice for the unheard. He and the BMI group have hosted two cookout and basketball tournaments to bring together different on-campus groups during the spring semester since 2022.
