FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas linemen Chris Smith and Travis Swanson continue to find themselves on award watch lists.
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Chris Smith, a defensive end, was named to the Bronko Nagurski watch list, it was announced Thursday. Smith is also under consideration for the Bednarik award, it was announced Monday.
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is awarded to the nation's most outstanding defensive player by the Charlotte Touchdown Club, while the Bednarik is presented to the defensive player of the year by the Maxwell Football Club.
Smith's name has consistently been placed on preseason All-Southeastern Conference teams as well. He started all 12 games last season and recorded 52 tackles, including 9.5 sacks. He joins Jadeveon Clowney as one of the league's only two returning players with at least nine sacks in 2012.
On the other side of the ball, Swanson, the Arkansas center, was named to the Outland Trophy watch list on Thursday. The Outland Trophy is awarded to the nation's most outstanding interior lineman by the Football Writers Association of America.
Arkansas has two past winners of the Outland Trophy. Bill "Bud" Brooks won the award in 1954 and Loyd Phillips became the second Razorback to claim it in 1966.
Swanson was also named to the Rimington Trophy watch list on Tuesday. The Rimington Trophy is awarded to the most outstanding center in college football's Football Bowl Subdivision and is decided by determining the consensus All-American in the the American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp Foundation, The Sporting News and Football Writers Association of America All-American teams
Former Arkansas center Jonathan Luigs won the Rimington Trophy in 2007.
In addition to being named to preseason All-SEC teams like Smith, Swanson has also appeared on preseason All-American teams. At the end of the 2012 season, he was voted All-SEC second team behind Barrett Jones (Alabama). Jones won the Outland Trophy in 2011 as an offensive tackle and won the Rimington Trophy last year.