Deshaun Watson's inclusion on the Walter Camp Award watch list is no surprise, but Clemson's star quarterback has some company.
The Tigers placed three players on the watch list released Friday -- Watson, running back Wayne Gallman and tight end Jordan Leggette -- more than any other school. Watson, considered one of the top pro prospects in the college game, was a Heisman Trophy finalist last year and returns as a junior this fall.
The award is voted on by FBS coaches and sports information directors.
Other top players among 40 named to the watch list: Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield, LSU RB Leonard Fournette, Georgia RB Nick Chubb, Texas A&M DE Myles Garrett, Stanford RB Christian McCaffrey, Iowa CB Desmond King, Michigan DB Jabrill Peppers and USC WR JuJu Smith-Schuster.
The Walter Camp Award goes to the top player in college football; the winner will be announced on Dec. 8. The award's 10 semifinalists will be announced in mid-November. Alabama RB Derrick Henry, a second-round draft pick of the Tennessee Titans, won the Walter Camp Award last year, and another Titans player -- quarterback Marcus Mariota -- took the honor the previous year.
Watch lists for 2016 college football awards:
July 5: Bednarik Award / Maxwell Award
July 6: Mackey Award / Rimington Trophy
July 7: Lou Groza Award / Ray Guy Award
July 8: Bronko Nagurski Trophy / Outland Trophy
July 11: Jim Thorpe Award
July 12: Butkus Award
July 13: Biletnikoff Award / Wuerffel Trophy
July 14: Davey O'Brien Award / Doak Walker Award
July 15: Walter Camp Award / Paul Hornung Award
2016 Walter Camp Award watch list
J.T. Barrett, Ohio State
C.J. Beathard, Iowa
Nick Chubb, Georgia
Dalvin Cook, Florida State
Corey Davis, Western Michigan
Josh Dobbs, Tennessee
Luke Falk, Washington State
Leonard Fournette, LSU
Royce Freeman, Oregon
Wayne Gallman, Clemson
Myles Garrett, Texas A&M
Eddie Jackson, Alabama
Justin Jackson, Northwestern
Derwin James, Florida State
Malik Jefferson, Texas
Chad Kelly, Ole Miss
Desmond King, Iowa
Christian Kirk, Texas A&M
DeShone Kizer, Notre Dame
Jordan Leggett, Clemson
Jourdan Lewis, Michigan
Shawun Lurry, Northern Illinois
Marlon Mack, USF
Tanner Mangum, BYU
Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
Christian McCaffrey, Stanford
Raekwon McMillan, Ohio State
Nick Mullens, Southern Miss
Jabrill Peppers, Michigan
Samaje Perine, Oklahoma
Donnel Pumphrey, San Diego State
Larry Rose, New Mexico State
Josh Rosen, UCLA
Seth Russell, Baylor
Brett Rypien, Boise State
JuJu Smith-Schuster, USC
Anu Solomon, Arizona
Anthony Walker, Northwestern
Greg Ward, Houston
Deshaun Watson, Clemson
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread*.
