ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ star offensive lineman Jonah Savaiinaea was named to the Outland Trophy watch list on Tuesday.Â
The Outland Trophy is given to the top offensive or defensive lineman in college football. Voting for the Outland Trophy is done by members of Football Writers Association of America. The only Wildcat to win the Outland Trophy is "Desert Swarm" defensive lineman Rob Waldrop, who won the award in 1993.Â
The 6-5, 330-pound Savaiinaea, a Tafuna, American Samoa native, started all 13 games for ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ last season — 12 at right tackle, one at right guard. Savaiinaea received a 70.2 grade by Pro Football Focus this past season. Savaiinaea had an 80.6 pass-blocking grade from PFF following his sophomore campaign in 2023.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ kicks off the 2024 season against New Mexico at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Stadium on Aug. 31 at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN.
Contact Justin Spears, the Star's ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ football beat reporter, at jspears@tucson.com. On X(Twitter): @JustinESports