Colorado State center Jake Bennett continues to garner national attention.  The Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) named him to its 2017 Outland Trophy Watch List Thursday, an award that is given annually to the nation’s most outstanding interior lineman. 

Bennett was one 81 total interior lineman to be recognized. Only interior linemen on offense or defense are eligible for the award; ends are not eligible. Of the 81 players announced on the Watch List, 20 were centers.

The Lakewood, Colo. native was also named to the Rimington Trophy Fall Watch List on Monday. That award is given to the most outstanding center in college football.

Along with Bennett, who has started every game over the last two seasons for the Rams, there were three other Mountain West players recognized by the FWAA Thursday. Offensive Tackles Archie Lewis (Boise State) and Austin Corbett (Nevada), and Defensive Tackle David Moa (Boise State).

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 then takes input from the entire membership, before selecting a 26-man first team and eventually the three Outland finalists. Committee members then select the winner through individual ballots.

The list will be trimmed to six or seven semifinalists on Wed, Nov. 15.  One week after that, three Outland Trophy finalists will be named by the FWAA. The winner of the 72nd Outland Trophy – named after the late John Outland, an All-America lineman at Penn at the turn of the 20th century, will be announced live on ESPN at The Home Depot College Football Awards on Thurs., Dec. 7.  

The Outland Trophy presentation banquet, sponsored by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee, will be held on Jan. 10, 2018 in Omaha, Neb.

Collegian  sports director Justin Michael can be reached by email at jmichael@collegian.com or Twitter @JustinTMichael.