Groves, Dunlap on award watch lists

Auburn seniors King Dunlap and Quentin Groves have been named to preseason watch lists for two major football awards, announced the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) on Tuesday.

Dunlap was named to the watch list for the Outland Trophy, which is presented to the nation's best interior lineman, and Groves was represented on the watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which is awarded to the nation's top defensive player.

Dunlap is one of 41 players named to the watch list for the Outland Trophy, which has been awarded to the best interior lineman in college football since 1946. The winner is selected by the FWAA's All-America Committee, which selects the association's 25-man All-America team and picks the three Outland Trophy finalists and the winner.

Dunlap, a native of Brentwood, Tenn., started all 13 games at left tackle for Auburn during the 2006 season. He was named the SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week following Auburn's 38-13 victory over Tulane Oct. 21, after earning a 99 percent overall grade with four pancake blocks, four cockroach blocks and four rodeo blocks.

Dunlap has played in 37 games during his career including 14 starts.

Groves is one of 49 players on the watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which is selected by the FWAA All-America Committee from the association's 11-man All-America defensive team in November. The watch list was developed by the FWAA All-America committee with the help of the schools and conferences.

Groves, a Greenville, Miss., native, recorded a team-leading 9.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss to go with 37 total tackles in 2006. He earned Coaches and Associated Press All-SEC First Team honors and was a Rivals.com Third-Team All-American.

Groves was named the FWAA/Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week as well as the SEC's Defensive Player of the Week after finishing with three sacks and two quarterback hurries in Auburn's 27-17

victory over Florida on Oct. 14. He followed that up with SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors after two first-half sacks and seven total tackles in the Tigers' 22-15 victory at Alabama.

The Charlotte Touchdown Club will hold the 2007 banquet for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy on Monday, Dec. 3, at the Westin Hotel in Charlotte. The 2007 Outland Trophy announcement will be on Dec. 6 in Orlando, Fla., on the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show.