Days before the Mississippi State football team begins fall camp on Aug. 4, some of its players have found themselves on preseason watchlist awards. Senior quarterback Will Rogers was named to the Maxwell Award Watch List, senior linebacker Nathaniel Watson was named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List and senior defensive lineman Jaden Crumedy was named to the Outland Trophy Watch List. 

The Maxwell Award is given to college football’s most outstanding player. Rogers has been one of the most dynamic college quarterbacks in recent history, throwing for 10,689 career yards and setting 29 new program records with 82 touchdowns, 18 300-yard passing games, 26 200-yard passing games. Additionally, Rogers is the only quarterback in Southeastern Conference history with more than 1,000 career completions. 

The Nagurski Award is given to college football’s best defensive player. Watson finished second last season in the SEC with 113 tackles, trailing only his teammate, Jett Johnson. Watson also tallied a team-high six sacks last season as well as an interception. In 45 career games, the senior linebacker has tallied 242 tackles and 11 sacks. He was named by the media to the preseason All-SEC defensive second team. 

The Outland Trophy is awarded to college football’s most outstanding interior lineman. Limited to five games last season due to an offseason injury, Crumedy tallied 15 tackles, five tackles for loss and two sacks. In his career, Crumedy has tallied 84 tackles, six sacks and one forced fumble. 

The Bulldogs open the 2023 season, the first under new head coach Zach Arnett, on Sept. 2 at Davis Wade Stadium against Southeastern Louisiana.