April 15, 2009
NationalChamps.net releases 3rd Annual Underdog Award Watch List
GIVEN TO THE NATION'S BEST PLAYER MID-MAJOR PLAYER

In an effort to bring media attention to those players from smaller schools that are too often overlooked for the HEISMAN and other major awards, NationalChamps.net presents the annual UNDERDOG AWARD to recognize the best FBS Mid-Major player in the nation. In evaluating the rich talent found throughout the 54 schools not aligned in BCS conferences, our commitment to finding overall excellence in college football remains at the forefront of our efforts.

The players listed below have excelled and stand out from the many great mid-major players found throughout the college football landscape. NationalChamps.net has initially chosen 55 players for the 2009 UNDERDOG AWARD Preseason Watch List, which was primarily based upon those players’ 2008 performances.

You can see the tough job we will have in whittling down such an excellent group of candidates. 2007 winner, QB Colt Brennan from Hawai'i, set the bar rather high for what it takes to win the UNDERDOG AWARD and QB Chase Clement from Rice carried on the tradition in 2008…and we know this year’s winner will again exemplify the amazing campaigns that those from smaller schools have so often supplied but are too often ignored for the national media recognition they deserve.

On Monday November 23 (the week of Thanksgiving), NationalChamps.net will present our list of semi-finalists. The finalists will be presented Tuesday December 1, and we will name the winner of the 2009 UNDERDOG AWARD after Championship Weekend on Wednesday December 9, 2009.


Semi-finalists: Monday, Nov. 23, 2009
Finalists: Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009
Winner: Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2009

ARCHIVES
December 10, 2008
- Chase Clement Wins NationalChamps.net’s 2008 UNDERDOG AWARD
December 4, 2007 - Colt Brennan Wins NationalChamps.net’s 2007 UNDERDOG AWARD

NationalChamps.net 2009 UNDERDOG AWARD Watch List Candidates
sorted by position
QB Max Hall Sr. Brigham Young
QB Tim Hiller Sr. Western Michigan
QB Colin Kaepernick Jr. Nevada
QB Case Keenum Jr. Houston
QB Dan LeFevour Sr. Central Michigan
QB Kellen Moore So. Boise State
QB Trevor Vittatoe Jr. UTEP
RB Reggie Arnold Sr. Arkansas State
RB Bryce Beall So. Houston
RB Damion Fletcher Sr. Southern Miss
RB MiQuale Lewis Sr. Ball State
RB Daniel Porter Sr. Louisiana Tech
RB James Starks Sr. Buffalo
RB Curtis Steele Sr. Memphis
RB Vai Taua Jr. Nevada
RB Harvey Unga Jr. Brigham Young
RB Brandon West Sr. Western Michigan
WR Antonio Brown Jr. Central Michigan
WR DeAndre Brown So. Southern Miss
WR Tyron Carrier So. Houston
WR Rashaun Greer Sr. Colorado State
WR T.Y. Hilton So. Florida International
WR Aldrick Robinson Jr. SMU
WR Naaman Roosevelt Sr. Buffalo
WR Ryan Wolfe Sr. UNLV
TE Jamari Grant Sr. Florida Atlantic
TE Dennis Pitta Sr. Brigham Young
TE Cody Slate Sr. Marshall
DE Kevin Basped Jr. Nevada
DE Alex Carrington Sr. Arkansas State
DE Jerry Hughes Sr. TCU
DE Carl Ihenacho Sr. San Jose State
DE Brandon Lang Sr. Troy
DE Dontay Moch Jr. Nevada
DE C.J. Wilson Sr. East Carolina
DE Ryan Winterswyk Jr. Boise State
DE Frank Zombo Sr. Central Michigan
DT Bruce Miller Jr. UCF
DT D'Anthony Smith Sr. Louisiana Tech
LB Jason Beauchamp Sr. UNLV
LB Nick Bellore Jr. Central Michigan
LB Cardia Jackson Sr. Louisiana-Monroe
LB Boris Lee Sr. Troy
DB Antonio Baker Sr. Louisiana Tech
DB Barry Church Sr. Toledo
DB Van Eskridge Sr. East Carolina
DB Anthony Gaitor Jr. Florida International
DB Eddie Hicks Sr. Southern Miss
DB Brian Lainhart Jr. Kent State
DB Davonte Shannon Jr. Buffalo
DB Kyle Wilson Sr. Boise State
K Josh Arauco Sr. Arkansas State
KR A.J. Jefferson Sr. Fresno State
KR Damaris Johnson So. Tulsa
KR/PR Phillip Livas Jr. Louisiana Tech
sorted by school
K Josh Arauco Sr. Arkansas State
RB Reggie Arnold Sr. Arkansas State
DE Alex Carrington Sr. Arkansas State
RB MiQuale Lewis Sr. Ball State
QB Kellen Moore So. Boise State
DB Kyle Wilson Sr. Boise State
DE Ryan Winterswyk Jr. Boise State
QB Max Hall Sr. Brigham Young
TE Dennis Pitta Sr. Brigham Young
RB Harvey Unga Jr. Brigham Young
WR Naaman Roosevelt Sr. Buffalo
DB Davonte Shannon Jr. Buffalo
RB James Starks Sr. Buffalo
LB Nick Bellore Jr. Central Michigan
WR Antonio Brown Jr. Central Michigan
QB Dan LeFevour Sr. Central Michigan
DE Frank Zombo Sr. Central Michigan
WR Rashaun Greer Sr. Colorado State
DB Van Eskridge Sr. East Carolina
DE C.J. Wilson Sr. East Carolina
TE Jamari Grant Sr. Florida Atlantic
DB Anthony Gaitor Jr. Florida International
WR T.Y. Hilton So. Florida International
KR A.J. Jefferson Sr. Fresno State
RB Bryce Beall So. Houston
WR Tyron Carrier So. Houston
QB Case Keenum Jr. Houston
DB Brian Lainhart Jr. Kent State
LB Cardia Jackson Sr. Louisiana-Monroe
DB Antonio Baker Sr. Louisiana Tech
KR/PR Phillip Livas Jr. Louisiana Tech
RB Daniel Porter Sr. Louisiana Tech
DT D'Anthony Smith Sr. Louisiana Tech
TE Cody Slate Sr. Marshall
RB Curtis Steele Sr. Memphis
DE Kevin Basped Jr. Nevada
QB Colin Kaepernick Jr. Nevada
DE Dontay Moch Jr. Nevada
RB Vai Taua Jr. Nevada
DE Carl Ihenacho Sr. San Jose State
WR DeAndre Brown So. Southern Miss
RB Damion Fletcher Sr. Southern Miss
DB Eddie Hicks Sr. Southern Miss
WR Aldrick Robinson Jr. SMU
DE Jerry Hughes Sr. TCU
DB Barry Church Sr. Toledo
DE Brandon Lang Sr. Troy
LB Boris Lee Sr. Troy
KR Damaris Johnson So. Tulsa
DT Bruce Miller Jr. UCF
LB Jason Beauchamp Sr. UNLV
WR Ryan Wolfe Sr. UNLV
QB Trevor Vittatoe Jr. UTEP
QB Tim Hiller Sr. Western Michigan
RB Brandon West Sr. Western Michigan