2023 Lone Star Player of the Year Award Preseason Watch List Announced
HOUSTON (August 21, 2023) – The TaxAct Texas Bowl in association with the Gridiron Legends announced today the creation of the Lone Star Player of the Year Award. The award will be presented annually to the most outstanding college football player from an institution in the State of Texas as determined by media and the Gridiron Legends. The Lone Star Player of the Year Award is the first award to honor the top college football player in Texas.
As part of the inaugural award, 50 student athletes representing each Football Bowl Subdivision program in Texas have been named to the preseason Watch List. Texas leads all schools with seven selections, followed by TCU with five, and Houston, Sam Houston, SMU, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, UTEP, and UTSA each with four.
Following Week Six, a midseason Watch List will be announced which may feature new additions to the list. Finalists will be announced following the conclusion of the regular season and a winner will be selected prior to the start of Bowl Season.
2023 Lone Star Player of the Year Award Preseason Watch List:
Ife Adeyi, WR, R-Jr., Sam Houston
Praise Amaewhule, DE, R-Sr., UTEP
Kelvin Banks, OL, So., Texas
Clark Barrington, OL, S-Sr., Baylor
Gabe Blair, OL, Jr., North Texas
Jerand Bradley, WR, So., Texas Tech
Tahj Brooks, RB, Sr., Texas Tech
Roderick Brown, DL, Jr., North Texas
Brandon Brown, DL, Jr., UTSA
Ryan Bujcevski, P, Sr., SMU
Jalen Catalon, DB, Sr., Texas
Joshua Cephus, WR, Sr., UTSA
Elijah Chatman, DL, Sr., SMU
Lucas Dean, P, Sr., UTSA
Quinn Ewers, QB, So., Texas
Malik Fleming, DB, Sr., Houston
Jaylan Ford, LB, Sr., Texas
Kavian Gaither, LB, Jr., Sam Houston
Matthew Golden, WR, So., Houston
Ethan Hagler, OL, R-Jr., Sam Houston
Gabe Hall, DL, Sr., Baylor
Gavin Hardison, QB, R-Sr., UTEP
Frank Harris, QB, R-Sr., UTSA
Johnny Hodges, LB, Jr., TCU
Jaylon Hutchings, DL, S-Sr., Texas Tech
McKinnley Jackson, DL, Sr., Texas A&M
Griffin Kell, K, Sr., TCU
Elijah Klein, OL, R-Sr., UTEP
Tyrice Knight, LB, R-Sr., UTEP
Tony Mathis, RB, Jr., Houston
Luke McCaffrey, WR, R-Jr., Rice
Chandler Morris, QB, So., TCU
Byron Murphy II, DL, Jr., Texas
Josh Newton, DB, Sr., TCU
Justin Osborne, OL, Sr., SMU
Patrick Paul, OL, Jr., Houston
Markel Perry, DL, Gr., Sam Houston
Richard Reese, RB, So., Baylor
Jordan Revels, DL, Sr., Texas State
Mazin Richards, DL, Sr., North Texas
Demani Richardson, DB, Sr., Texas A&M
Ja'Tavion Sanders, WR, Jr., Texas
Clay Servin, OL, R-Sr., Rice
Tyler Shough, QB, Sr., Texas Tech
Ainias Smith, WR, Gr., Texas A&M
Tory Spears, DB, R-Sr., Texas State
Evan Stewart, WR, So., Texas A&M
Damonic Williams, DL, So., TCU
Kobe Wilson, LB, Jr., SMU
Xavier Worthy, WR, Jr., Texas
Each week during the regular season, the Lone Star Player of the Year Award committee will nominate three Stars of the Week who are eligible to be named Player of the Week. The nominees will be announced each Monday and a fan vote will determine the Player of the Week, which will be announced each Wednesday. Fans can vote at TaxActTexasBowl.com/playeroftheyear.