University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Panthers Announced as Candidates for the Nagurski and Outland Trophies
7/13/2017 10:00:00 AM | Football
Pitt’s Jordan Whitehead, Brian O’Neill and Alex Officer Named to Prestigious Watch Lists
PITTSBURGH—Three Pitt football players were named to national award watch lists Thursday morning.
Safety Jordan Whitehead was selected as a preseason candidate for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, annually presented to the nation's Defensive Player of the Year, while offensive linemen Brian O'Neill and Alex Officer were chosen for the watch list for the Outland Trophy, given each year to college football's top interior lineman.
Whitehead (Aliquippa, Pa./Central Valley) has tallied 174 total tackles, 10 passes defended, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries over the last two seasons with the Panthers.
Twice an All-ACC selection at safety, Whitehead's playmaking ability has resulted in defensive touchdowns on two occasions—first with a 22-yard fumble return against Navy in the 2015 Military Bowl and also on a 59-yard interception return in Pitt's win at Virginia last fall.
O'Neill (Wilmington, Del./Salesianum School) enters his junior campaign after a memorable sophomore season that included being named the 2016 Piesman Trophy winner and an All-ACC offensive tackle.
O'Neill's touchdown-scoring exploits against Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech on designed run plays last year earned him recognition from SB Nation's Piesman committee, and his blocking abilities didn't going unnoticed as the league's coaches (second team) and media (third team) both voted him to the All-ACC squads.
While O'Neill boasts a 25-game start streak on Pitt's offensive line, Officer owns the team's longest tally of consecutive starts made at 34 games heading into his final collegiate season.
Capable of playing center or guard, Officer (Rochester, N.Y./Eastridge) is expected to be a senior stalwart on the Panthers' offensive line again this fall. Officer started all 13 contests at center last season for Pitt, following a 2015 campaign in which he opened every game at guard. As a redshirt freshman in 2014, Officer also played in every game, starting the final 10 at center.
Pitt is no stranger to the Nagurski Trophy and Outland Trophy, with defensive tackle Aaron Donald, now a perennial Pro Bowler with the Los Angeles Rams, having won both awards in 2013 following his stellar senior season for the Panthers. Panthers' offensive line legend Mark May also received the Outland Trophy in 1980.
Season tickets and mini-packages for the 2017 Pitt football season are now on sale.
Call the Pitt Ticket Office at (800) 643-PITT (7488) or log on to PittsburghPanthers.com.
#H2P | Twitter | Instagram
Safety Jordan Whitehead was selected as a preseason candidate for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, annually presented to the nation's Defensive Player of the Year, while offensive linemen Brian O'Neill and Alex Officer were chosen for the watch list for the Outland Trophy, given each year to college football's top interior lineman.
Whitehead (Aliquippa, Pa./Central Valley) has tallied 174 total tackles, 10 passes defended, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries over the last two seasons with the Panthers.
Twice an All-ACC selection at safety, Whitehead's playmaking ability has resulted in defensive touchdowns on two occasions—first with a 22-yard fumble return against Navy in the 2015 Military Bowl and also on a 59-yard interception return in Pitt's win at Virginia last fall.
O'Neill (Wilmington, Del./Salesianum School) enters his junior campaign after a memorable sophomore season that included being named the 2016 Piesman Trophy winner and an All-ACC offensive tackle.
O'Neill's touchdown-scoring exploits against Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech on designed run plays last year earned him recognition from SB Nation's Piesman committee, and his blocking abilities didn't going unnoticed as the league's coaches (second team) and media (third team) both voted him to the All-ACC squads.
While O'Neill boasts a 25-game start streak on Pitt's offensive line, Officer owns the team's longest tally of consecutive starts made at 34 games heading into his final collegiate season.
Capable of playing center or guard, Officer (Rochester, N.Y./Eastridge) is expected to be a senior stalwart on the Panthers' offensive line again this fall. Officer started all 13 contests at center last season for Pitt, following a 2015 campaign in which he opened every game at guard. As a redshirt freshman in 2014, Officer also played in every game, starting the final 10 at center.
Pitt is no stranger to the Nagurski Trophy and Outland Trophy, with defensive tackle Aaron Donald, now a perennial Pro Bowler with the Los Angeles Rams, having won both awards in 2013 following his stellar senior season for the Panthers. Panthers' offensive line legend Mark May also received the Outland Trophy in 1980.
Season tickets and mini-packages for the 2017 Pitt football season are now on sale.
Call the Pitt Ticket Office at (800) 643-PITT (7488) or log on to PittsburghPanthers.com.
#H2P | Twitter | Instagram
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