“Boys, I may lead you into hell, but I’ll get you out if you do exactly what I tell you to do. I’ll never send you into battle, I’ll lead you. All I ask any man to do is follow me.”- Leander McNelly

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The following are on this week’s official watchlist for the McNelly Award going into Week 9. *SingleHighSports.com Favorite

McNelly Award Watchlist:

• *Kamari Wilson: Memphis Safety.
  • 40 Tackles, 2 INT, 2.5 TFL, 3 PD, 1 FF
• Zakee Wheatley: Penn St Safety
  • 49 Tackles, 1 Fumble Recovery, 1 INT, 1 TFL, 1 PD
• KJ Bolden: Georgia Safety.
  • 33 Tackles, 1 INT, 2 PD
• *KP Price: The Boston College Safety is a leader and is worthy of being on this list. In response to a reporter’s question a few weeks ago Price said, “Not driven by stats. I want to improve–but leading the guys, leading the team–that’s my priority.”
  • 56 Tackles, 3 TFL, 1 INT
• Jackson Bennee: Utah Safety
  • 36 Total Tackles, 3 INT, 1 Pick Six, 1 TFL, 3 PD
• Hezekiah Masses: CAL Corner
  • 26 Tackles, 4 INT, 9 PD, 1 TFL
• *Bishop Fitzgerald: USC Safety
  • 40 Tackles, 5 INT’s, 1 TD, 1 Sack, 1.5 TFL
• Brice Pollock: Texas Tech CB
  • 26 Tackles, 3 Picks, 4 PD
• Elijah Green: Tulsa CB
  • 5 INT, 36 Tackles, 4 PD, 1 FR, 1 PD
• Christian Gray: Notre Dame CB
  • 16 Tackles, 8 PD, 2 INT
• *Louis Moore: Indiana Safety
  • 48 Tackles, 2 TFL, 4 INT, 2 PD
• Alex McLaughlin: Washington Safety
  • 50 Tackles, 2 INT, 1 for a TD, 2 PD, 1.5 TFL

So, that’s twelve worthy defensive backs on the McNelly Award Watchlist. These young men have stepped up for their team when needed and help embody the grit, toughness, and leadership required to win this relatively prestigious award in its inaugural season.

The * doesn’t mean a guarantee to be on the final list, but it does mean that were the season to end today, these four would be the finalists. By the end of Week 14, I’ll have the McNelly Award Finalists list narrowed down and I’ll present a case for each.

I expect a few more to find their way to this list as the season continues to build. By Week 12 I’ll begin to narrow the list to find the most deserving winner of such a gritty award. Leander was gritty. Everybody was back then.

Remember, it’s not just about production, although production matters. It’s about who embodies the Leander McNelly spirit of fearlessness, leadership, and self-belief and steps up for their team when it is needed the most. There is still time to get on the list if one happens to show up in a big way over the next three weeks.

Let me ask you this–is there a defensive back that you like that is not represented? Before you answer, let me ask another question. Have you had the chance to read Follow Me to Hell yet? It might be necessary to properly identify a McNelly.

He’s not on the list but Safety Miles Scott embodies Leander’s grit and leadership. His next three matchups are Washington, Rutgers, and Maryland so the opportunity will be there for him to work his way back into the conversation. He’s still a ‘Dark Horse’ to win it as I stated over the Summer. Only up Miles!

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So, there is the most updated McNelly Award Watchlist. Good luck to all of the young men as they strive to make themselves and their team better every week. Winning games doesn’t matter, but it certainly helps. Tom Clavin didn’t write the book on Leander McNelly because he was a loser.

-It’s 7AM, let’s have a great Wednesday!

Find the Humor and Keep on Movin’

Whit W.