Walter Camp Football Foundation Announces
2021 Player of the Year Preseason Watch List
New Haven, CT – The Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced the names of 35
“players to watch” for its 2021 Player of the Year award, the nation’s fourth-oldest individual
college football accolade.
There are 25 offensive players (13 quarterbacks, eight running backs and four receivers/tight
ends) on the preseason watch list along with 10 from the defensive side of the ball. In all, 29
schools and 11 conferences (including independents) are represented on the list with Iowa State
having four players on the list. Defending national champion Alabama has two players on the
watch list, along with Notre Dame and Clemson.
“We are proud to continue the great work of Walter Camp and recognize the best college
football players in the nation,” Foundation president Mario Coppola said. “This watch list is a
great start to what is shaping up to be another exciting year of college football.”
Former Alabama and current Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Devonta Smith was the 2020
Walter Camp Player of Year.
The 2021 watch list will be narrowed to 10 semi-finalists in mid-November. The 2021 Walter
Camp Player of the Year recipient, which is voted on by the 130 NCAA Bowl Subdivision head
coaches and sports information directors, will be announced live on ESPN on Thursday,
December 9. The winner will then receive his trophy at the Foundation’s 55th annual national
awards banquet on January 15, 2022 in New Haven, Conn.
Please note: Appearing on the preseason Watch List is not a requirement for a player to win the
Walter Camp award or be named to the All-America team.
2021 Walter Camp Player of Year Preseason Players to Watch
Will Anderson, LB, Alabama
Tank Bigsby, RB, Auburn
Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson
Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
Matt Corrall, QB, Ole Miss
Dustin Crum, QB, Kent State
Jayden Daniels, QB, Arizona State
JT Daniels, QB, Georgia
Dillon Gabriel, QB, UCF
Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State
Cade Hall, DE, San Jose State
Kyle Hamilton, DB, Notre Dame
Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina
Mohamed Ibrahim, RB, Minnesota
Brandon Joseph, DB, Northwestern
D’Eriq King, QB, Miami
Charlie Kolar, TE, Iowa State
DeMarvin Leal, DL, Texas A&M
Grayson McCall, QB, Coastal Carolina
John Metchie, WR, Alabama
Sincere McCormick, RB, UTSA
Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
Michael Peniz, QB, Indiana
Brock Purdy, QB, Iowa State
Spencer Rattler, QB, Oklahoma
Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
Mike Rose, LB, Iowa State
Justyn Ross, WR, Clemson
Kedon Slovis, QB, USC
Derek Stingley, DB, LSU
Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE, Oregon
Demetrius Taylor, DE, Appalachian State
Kyren Williams, RB, Notre Dame
Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
