Rewind: Sooner Football 2015 Preseason National Award Candidates
By Chip Rouse
Ty Darlington
Oct 11, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners center Ty Darlington (56) in action against theTexas Longhorns during the Red River showdown at the Cotton Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
The 6-3, 299-pound senior will man the offensive center position in 2015. He started all 13 OU games at center last season, and was a Capital One All-Academic First Team honoree in 2014. Darlington has been named to the preseason watch list for three national awards:
Rimington Trophy – Named in honor of former University of Nebraska All-American Dave Rimington, who played in the former Big Eight Conference, the Rimington Trophy recognizes the top center in college football. There are no previous Oklahoma winners of this award, which was originated in 2000.
Outland Trophy – This award is one of the national awards presented by the Football Writers Association of America. It is presented to college football’s best interior lineman. This is one of the oldest of the national awards, founded in 1949. Five former Sooners have won the award: tackle Jim Weatherall (1951), guard J.D. Roberts (1953), defensive tackle Lee Roy Selmon (1975), center Greg Roberts (1978) and offensive tackle Jammal Brown (2004).
Wuerffel Trophy – The Wuerffel Trophy differs somewhat from the majority if the individual national awards in that it honors community service in the college football community. This award goes to the player in college’s Football Bowl Subdivision that best combines exemplary community service along with athletic and academic achievement. Former Oklahoma center Gabe Ikard won this award following the 2013 season.
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