Seven ACC Linemen Named to 2025 Outland Trophy Preseason Watch List

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – Seven standout linemen from the Atlantic Coast Conference have earned a spot on the preseason watch record for the 2025 Outland Trophy, it was introduced by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) on Tuesday. The award honors the nation’s prime inside lineman. 

The watch record, which acknowledges 50 returning standout inside linemen representing FBS conferences and unbiased faculties, consists of 16 offensive tackles and 15 guards on this yr’s record to associate with 10 defensive tackles and 9 facilities. 

Miami, final season’s complete offense chief at 537.2 complete offensive yards per sport, returns a pair up entrance who helped make it occur in offensive deal with Francis Mauigoa and guard Anez Cooper. Clemson’s pair consists of one of many 10 defensive tackles on the record in Peter Woods to go together with offensive deal with Blake Miller, whereas Duke, Georgia Tech and SMU every had one offensive lineman on the watch record. 

The FWAA will slim the record to 6 or seven semifinalists on November 19, announce three finalists on November 25 (ESPN), and crown the eightieth Outland Trophy winner on December 12 throughout The Home Depot College Football Awards. The official presentation will happen on January 21, 2026, in Omaha, Nebraska. 

Players may be added or faraway from the record all through the season. Weekly nationwide honorees may also be added to the watch record because the season progresses.

ACC Players Named to the 2025 Outland Trophy Preseason Watch List 

Name, School, Position 

Blake Miller, Clemson, OT

Peter Woods, Clemson, DT 

Brian Parker II, Duke, OT 

Keylan Rutledge, Georgia Tech, G 

Anez Cooper, Miami, G 

Francis Mauigoa, Miami, OT 

PJ Williams, SMU, OT 

The Outland Trophy, celebrating its eightieth yr since its founding, is the third-oldest main school soccer award. Created in 1946 when Dr. John Outland offered the FWAA with a monetary contribution to provoke the award, the Outland Trophy has been given to one of the best inside lineman in school soccer ever since Dr. Outland, an All-American on the University of Pennsylvania within the late Nineties, ultimately took up follow in Kansas City, Missouri. An avid outdoorsman, Dr. Outland believed linemen didn’t get the credit score they deserved and needed an award to acknowledge them. 

The Outland Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses school soccer’s most prestigious awards. The NCFAA’s 25 awards have honored greater than 950 recipients since 1935.