Preseason Honors

Paulson Adebo (DB)

Over the last two seasons, Adebo leads the nation with 38 passes defended. He is one of three returners in college football to have had at least four interceptions in each of the last two seasons. He is a two-time All-Pac-12 first team honoree.

In 2019, despite missing the final three games due to injury, Adebo led the conference in passes defended per game and interceptions per game. Nationally he ranked third and eighth, respectively, in those categories.

As a sophomore, Adebo was named second-team All-America by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA). He is the youngest Cardinal defensive player to earn FWAA All-America recognition, and joins Christian McCaffrey as the only Stanford sophomores to make the list. In his first year of action, the Mansfield, Texas, native led the country with a school-record 20 pass breakups and 24 passes defended. A first-team All-Pac-12 selection, Adebo also led the team and was third in the Pac-12 with four interceptions in 2018.

Lott IMPACT Trophy
Adebo was one of 42 student-athletes named to the Lott IMPACT Trophy preseason watch list. The 42 (Ronnie Lott's number) nominees represent the finest in college football -- defensive players who have had the biggest IMPACT on their teams both on and off the field. IMPACT stands for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity. The Lott IMPACT Trophy, which has raised more than $1.6 million for scholarships and other youth-related charities throughout the country, is the only major college football award where the character of the nominee is considered. Candidates will be evaluated during the season with a Player of the Week chosen each week (and his school receiving $1,000 for its general scholarship fund). The four finalists will attend the 17th annual Lott IMPACT Trophy banquet in December in Newport Beach. 

Chuck Bednarik Award
Named for Chuck Bednarik, a former college and NFL Hall of Famer, the Bednarik Award has been presented annually to the Defensive Player of the Year in college football since 1995 and is judged by the Maxwell Football Club. Semifinalists will be announced November 3, while the three finalists for each award will be unveiled November 23. The winners will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 10, and the formal presentation will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala hosted by Tropicana Hotel and Casino Atlantic City on March 12, 2021. 

Jim Thorpe Award
The Jim Thorpe Award, named in memory of multi-sport athlete Jim Thorpe, has been awarded to the top defensive back in college football since 1986. It is voted on by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame, and based on performance on the field, athletic ability and character. The watch list includes 49 of the nation's best defensive backs and the winner will be announced at The Home Depot College Football Awards on December 10 on ESPN. The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award commemorative banquet will be held in Oklahoma City.

Bronko Nagurski Trophy
Awarded to the best defensive player in the nation, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy has been presented every year since 1993. The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce five finalists for the 2020 Bronko Nagurski Trophy.

Treyjohn Butler (CB)

A fifth-year cornerback who graduated with his degree in political science, Butler finds himself on the Wuerffel Trophy watch list for the second consecutive season. After playing in 10 games in 2018, Butler played in just four last season while battling injuries. He earned the program's Chris Draft Commitment to Community Outreach Award last season and continues to make a big impact in both the Stanford community, as well as back home in the Rancho Cucamonga area. 

Wuerffel Trophy
Honoring college football's most impactful leaders in community service, The Wuerffel Trophy is presented to the FBS player who best combines exemplary community service with leadership achievement on and off the field. Named for Danny Wuerffel, 1996 National Championship winning quarterback at Florida - who is renowned for his commitment to service and leadership - The Wuerffel Trophy is the premier major college football award that places the majority of its voting emphasis on Community Service.

Drew Dalman (C)

The Cardinal's starting center, Dalman was named All-Pac-12 second team a year ago and was Stanford's only offensive lineman to start all 12 games. Leading a group which featured three true freshman starters in each of the season's final six games, Dalman brings a veteran present to a line that could be one of the Pac-12's best when healthy in 2020. Dalman earned the Team Technician Award a season ago and was a member of the Pac-12 Fall Academic honor roll.

Outland Trophy
Awarded to the nation's best interior lineman, the Outland Award will be announced during ESPN's The Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 10, live from the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta. The official presentation to the winner will be made at the NFID Outland Trophy Awards Dinner sponsored by Werner Enterprises and produced by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee in Jan. 15, 2021. Up to eight semifinalists and three finalists for the award will be announced in November.

Tucker Fisk (TE)

Fisk has been an integral member of the Cardinal tight end room during his career, having played in 24 games over the last two seasons with four starts. Fisk has been an integral part of the Cardinal rushing attack while playing alongside NFL tight ends Kaden Smith and Colby Parkinson. With four receptions last year, Fisk and the Cardinal tight ends will look to carry on the strong tradition of Tight End U, with eight tight ends drafted since 2010.

John Mackey Award
Given annually to the most outstanding collegiate tight end, the award is in honor of NFL Hall of Fame member John Mackey, who is considered to be the best to have played the tight end position. The award recipient is selected by vote of the John Mackey Award Selection Committee, and the 2020 Mackey Award recipient will be announced in December.
 

Walker Little (LT)

An All-America and All-Conference left tackle, Little decided to forego the NFL Draft in 2020 to return to The Farm with the Cardinal. After starting all 12 games in 2018, Little was injured in the 2019 season opener and missed the remainder of the season. When healthy, he has been a Freshman All-American, Pac-12 Freshman Offensive Co-Player of the Year and All-Pac-12 first team, in addition to numerous accolades earned in the classroom.

Outland Trophy
Awarded to the nation's best interior lineman, the Outland Award will be announced during ESPN's The Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 10, live from the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta. The official presentation to the winner will be made at the NFID Outland Trophy Awards Dinner sponsored by Werner Enterprises and produced by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee in Jan. 15, 2021. Up to eight semifinalists and three finalists for the award will be announced in November.

Davis Mills (QB)

The 2020 season will be Mills' first as the Cardinal's full-time starter, but he comes in after starting six games in 2019. Mills, a former five-star QB recruit, battled injuries early in his career, but prospered when healthy a season ago. Mills threw for 1,960 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2019, including a school-record 504 passing yards at Washington State. He also showed his versatility a season ago, catching a touchdown pass at Oregon State. Mills and the Cardinal look to continue the potent offensive attack with the Georgia native leading the charge in 2020.

Maxwell Award
Presented annually to the best all-around college football player, the Maxwell Award is judged by a panel of sportscasters, sportswriters, and National Collegiate Athletic Association head coaches and the membership of the Maxwell Football Club. The award is named in honor of Robert W. "Tiny" Maxwell and has been given to America's College Player of the Year since 1937. Semifinalists will be announced on November 3, while the three finalists for the award will be unveiled on November 23. The winners will be announced as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 10, and the formal presentation will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala hosted by Tropicana Hotel and Casino Atlantic City on March 12, 2021. Stanford has had two Maxwell Award winners (Jim Plunkett in 1970 and Andrew Luck in 2011).

Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award
The Golden Arm Award is presented annually to the top senior and upperclassman quarterback set to graduate with their class by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Selection Committee. Candidates are chosen based on player performance on and off the field. The namesake of the Golden Arm Award has a storied history. Johnny Unitas was an 18-year veteran of the NFL, who played his collegiate career at the University of Louisville before joining the Baltimore Colts in 1958. His career passing figures include 2,830 pass completions for 40,239 yards, 290 touchdowns and throwing a touchdown pass in 47 consecutive games.

Isaiah Sanders (QB)

A graduate transfer quarterback from Air Force, Sanders was a finalist for the Wuerffel Trophy in 2019. He brings with him to The Farm a host of accolades, inlcuding: Wuerffel Trophy finalist, Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, Jason Witten Man of the Year finalist, William V. Campbell Trophy semifinalist and National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society member. While at Air Force, Sanders played in 16 games with six starts, totaling 1,709 yarda and 13 touchdowns. He graduated from Air Force with his degree in Engineering with a Human Factors Focus and a minor in Spanish.

Wuerffel Trophy
Honoring college football's most impactful leaders in community service, The Wuerffel Trophy is presented to the FBS player who best combines exemplary community service with leadership achievement on and off the field. Named for Danny Wuerffel, 1996 National Championship winning quarterback at Florida - who is renowned for his commitment to service and leadership - The Wuerffel Trophy is the premier major college football award that places the majority of its voting emphasis on Community Service.

Jet Toner (K)

A fifth-year kicker for the Cardinal, Toner is currently tied for sixth in school history with 47 career field goals made. His .825 (47-of-57) field goal percentage is the best in school history, while he is a perfect 101-of-101 in his career on point-after attempts. Toner has earned Pac-12 Academic honors in each of the last three seasons and was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team in 2018. Since the pandemic began, Toner has been involved in his local community donating items of need to foster families such as diapers, wipes and other essential items for babies and children in need.

William V. Campbell Trophy
Named in honor of the late William V. Campbell, the former chairman of Intuit, former player and head coach at Columbia University and the 2004 recipient of the NFF's Gold Medal, The William V. Campbell Trophy® Presented by Mazda has become the most prestigious and desirable "academic" award in college football. The trophy recognizes an individual as the absolute best in the country for his academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership. Student-athletes in their final year of eligibility who hold at least a 3.2 grade-point average and are starters or key contributors are eligible. Last year, Cardinal OLB Casey Toohill was one of 12 finalists for the Campbell Trophy.

Connor Wedington (WR)

One of the nation's most versatile players in 2019, Wedington totaled 506 receiving yards and 590 kick return yards a year ago. His 28.1 yards per kick return average was the best in the Pac-12 and eighth-best nationally. Wedington also excels off the field, as he was named to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team in 2019, while also earning All-Pac-12 honorable mention. He also was recognized by the program with the Phil Moffatt Award for Most Outstanding Special Teams Player as well as the Bill Anderson Commitment to Community Outreach Award.

Hornung Award
The Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse is given annually to the most versatile player in major college football. It's given by the Louisville Sports Commission and football legend Paul Hornung. The winner and his family will be honored at the annual Paul Hornung Award dinner in Louisville in March 2021. Christian McCaffrey won the award in 2015.

Wuerffel Trophy
Honoring college football's most impactful leaders in community service, The Wuerffel Trophy is presented to the FBS player who best combines exemplary community service with leadership achievement on and off the field. Named for Danny Wuerffel, 1996 National Championship winning quarterback at Florida - who is renowned for his commitment to service and leadership - The Wuerffel Trophy is the premier major college football award that places the majority of its voting emphasis on Community Service.

Michael Wilson (WR)

Wilson has played in all 25 games through his first two seasons on The Farm, starting 14, including all 12 a season ago. He led the team with 56 catches for 672 yards and added five touchdowns, second most on the team. Wilson had touchdowns against Northwestern, UCF, Oregon State, Washington State and Notre Dame. He had his first career 100-yard game at Washington State, catching five passes for 114 yards.

So far this preseason, Wilson has been named Preseason All-Pac-12 as both a wide receiver and punt returner. For his career, he has 70 catches for 796 yards and six touchdowns.

Biletnikoff Award
The Biletnikoff Award is annually presented to college football's outstanding FBS receiver, regardless of position. The award is sponsored by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, Inc. The award is named after Fred Biletnikoff, a member of the pro and college football halls of fame. He was a consensus All-America receiver at Florida State and an All-Pro receiver of the Oakland Raiders. He caught 589 passes for 8.974 yards and 76 touchdowns in his 14-year Raiders career from 1965-78. He was the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XI. Cardinal wide receiver Troy Walters won the Biletnikoff Award in 1999.