VAUGHN, LUNT NAMED TO POSITION WATCH LISTS
Lunt named to O'Brien Award list, Vaughn picked for Doak Walker Award recognition
Illinois' Wes Lunt and Ke'Shawn Vaughn were selected for watch lists that honor the best at their respective positions, it was announced Thursday. Lunt is one of 30 quarterbacks on the Davey O'Brien Award watch list, while Vaughn was named to the Doak Walker Award watch list, which features 76 of the nation's best running backs.
The Doak Walker Award
The Doak Walker Award, first awarded in 1990, recognizes the nation's premier running back for his accomplishments on the field, achievement in the classroom and citizenship in the community. It is the only major collegiate football award that requires all candidates to be in good academic standing and on schedule to graduate within one year of other students of the same classification.
» Full Watch List
» Last three winners: Derrick Henry (Alabama), Melvin Gordon (Wisconsin), Andre Williams (Boston College)
Ke'Shawn Vaugh
• Sophomore running back from Nashville, Tenn. (Pearl-Cohn HS)
• Played in 11 games, including five starts
• 2015 Illinois Offensive Newcomer of the Year
• Led the team in carries (157), rushing yards (723) and touchdowns (6)
• Also had 16 receptions for 119 yards in 2015
• Named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Nov. 9 after career-high 180 rushing yards on 16 carres at Purdue
• Season-long 78-yard touchdown run at Purdue
• Career-high 24 carries for 97 yards, including a 48-yard rush, vs. Nebraska
• Career-high six receptions for 33 yards at Penn State
• Consensus four-star recruit out of high school
VAUGHN - CAREER STATS
Yr G Att Rush Yds Rush TD Long Avg/C Avg/G Rec Rec Yds Rec TD
2015 11 157 723 6 78 4.6 65.7 16 119 0
Total 11 157 723 6 78 4.6 65.7 16 119 0
The Davey O'Brien Award
The Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award is presented annually to the nation's best college quarterback and is the oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award. The Davey O'Brien Award honors candidates who exemplify O'Brien's enduring character while exhibiting teamwork, sportsmanship and leadership in both academics and athletics.
» Full Watch List
» Watch list by conference: Big 12 (5), Big Ten (5), Pac-12 (4), American (4), ACC (2), C-USA (2), Independents (2), MAC (2), SEC (2), Mountain West (1), Sun Belt (1)
» Watch list by class: Senior (14), Junior (11), Sophomore (5)
» Last three winners: Deshaun Watson (Clemson), Marcus Mariota (Oregon), Jameis Winston (Florida State)
Wes Lunt
• Senior quarterback from Rochester, Ill. (Rochester HS)
• Transferred from Oklahoma State in 2013
• Started all 12 games at quarterback in 2015
• 270-of-481 passing for 2,761 yards, 14 touchdowns and six interceptions in 2015
• Ninth on UI single-season passing yards list (2,761) in 2015
• Fourth on UI single-season completions list (270) in 2015
• Averaged 230.1 yards passing per game with an efficiency rating of 111.46 in 2015
• Led the Big Ten and ranked 20th in the nation in completions per game (22.5) in 2015
• Ranked sixth in the Big Ten in passing yards (2,761) in 2015
• Threw for 250+ yards five times in 2015
LUNT - CAREER STATS
Yr G Comp Att Int Yards TD Long Pct Avg/P Avg/G
2014 8 153 241 3 1763 14 62 .630 7.3 220.4
2015 12 270 481 6 2761 14 53 .560 5.7 230.1
Total 20 423 722 9 4524 28 62 .590 6.3 226.2
Illini on 2016 Preseason Watch Lists (as of 7/14)
Wes Lunt – Maxwell Award (Off. POY), Davey O'Brien Award (QB)
Hardy Nickerson – Nagurski Trophy (Def. POY), Butkus Award (LB)
Dawuane Smoot – Bednarik Award (Def. POY)
Joe Spencer – Rimington Trophy (C), Wuerffel Trophy (Community Service)
Lunt named to O'Brien Award list, Vaughn picked for Doak Walker Award recognition
Illinois' Wes Lunt and Ke'Shawn Vaughn were selected for watch lists that honor the best at their respective positions, it was announced Thursday. Lunt is one of 30 quarterbacks on the Davey O'Brien Award watch list, while Vaughn was named to the Doak Walker Award watch list, which features 76 of the nation's best running backs.
The Doak Walker Award
The Doak Walker Award, first awarded in 1990, recognizes the nation's premier running back for his accomplishments on the field, achievement in the classroom and citizenship in the community. It is the only major collegiate football award that requires all candidates to be in good academic standing and on schedule to graduate within one year of other students of the same classification.
» Full Watch List
» Last three winners: Derrick Henry (Alabama), Melvin Gordon (Wisconsin), Andre Williams (Boston College)
Ke'Shawn Vaugh
• Sophomore running back from Nashville, Tenn. (Pearl-Cohn HS)
• Played in 11 games, including five starts
• 2015 Illinois Offensive Newcomer of the Year
• Led the team in carries (157), rushing yards (723) and touchdowns (6)
• Also had 16 receptions for 119 yards in 2015
• Named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Nov. 9 after career-high 180 rushing yards on 16 carres at Purdue
• Season-long 78-yard touchdown run at Purdue
• Career-high 24 carries for 97 yards, including a 48-yard rush, vs. Nebraska
• Career-high six receptions for 33 yards at Penn State
• Consensus four-star recruit out of high school
VAUGHN - CAREER STATS
Yr G Att Rush Yds Rush TD Long Avg/C Avg/G Rec Rec Yds Rec TD
2015 11 157 723 6 78 4.6 65.7 16 119 0
Total 11 157 723 6 78 4.6 65.7 16 119 0
The Davey O'Brien Award
The Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award is presented annually to the nation's best college quarterback and is the oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award. The Davey O'Brien Award honors candidates who exemplify O'Brien's enduring character while exhibiting teamwork, sportsmanship and leadership in both academics and athletics.
» Full Watch List
» Watch list by conference: Big 12 (5), Big Ten (5), Pac-12 (4), American (4), ACC (2), C-USA (2), Independents (2), MAC (2), SEC (2), Mountain West (1), Sun Belt (1)
» Watch list by class: Senior (14), Junior (11), Sophomore (5)
» Last three winners: Deshaun Watson (Clemson), Marcus Mariota (Oregon), Jameis Winston (Florida State)
Wes Lunt
• Senior quarterback from Rochester, Ill. (Rochester HS)
• Transferred from Oklahoma State in 2013
• Started all 12 games at quarterback in 2015
• 270-of-481 passing for 2,761 yards, 14 touchdowns and six interceptions in 2015
• Ninth on UI single-season passing yards list (2,761) in 2015
• Fourth on UI single-season completions list (270) in 2015
• Averaged 230.1 yards passing per game with an efficiency rating of 111.46 in 2015
• Led the Big Ten and ranked 20th in the nation in completions per game (22.5) in 2015
• Ranked sixth in the Big Ten in passing yards (2,761) in 2015
• Threw for 250+ yards five times in 2015
LUNT - CAREER STATS
Yr G Comp Att Int Yards TD Long Pct Avg/P Avg/G
2014 8 153 241 3 1763 14 62 .630 7.3 220.4
2015 12 270 481 6 2761 14 53 .560 5.7 230.1
Total 20 423 722 9 4524 28 62 .590 6.3 226.2
Illini on 2016 Preseason Watch Lists (as of 7/14)
Wes Lunt – Maxwell Award (Off. POY), Davey O'Brien Award (QB)
Hardy Nickerson – Nagurski Trophy (Def. POY), Butkus Award (LB)
Dawuane Smoot – Bednarik Award (Def. POY)
Joe Spencer – Rimington Trophy (C), Wuerffel Trophy (Community Service)
