CSU Rams Jacob Gardner on Outland Trophy Watch List

On July 30, the Football Writers Association of America announced that interior offensive lineman Jacob Gardner had been named to the Outland Trophy Watch List.

The Outland Trophy is handed out every season to the player that is deemed to be the best interior offensive lineman in all of college football. The Outland Trophy is also a member of the National College Football Awards Association.

Gardner's College Career

Gardner has played all four years for the Rams as the starting center on the offensive line. Gardner has been the anchor for their offensive line and even earned awards for it. He earned preseason All-Mountain West Conference honors after when he had earned All MWC Second team honors the season before.

Gardner was also the team captain of the Rams for the 2022 and 2023 seasons and goes into his graduate year keeping the role.

Gardner has played all 45 games of his college career and goes into his graduate year with the most games played among current MWC players.

He led a Colorado State offense in 2023 that ended up producing 400 yards per game and an offense that allowed the 17th fewest sacks in the nation. The Rams offense also scored 313 points in 12 games which means Gardner and the Rams averaged 26 points per game.

More Watch List Information

The Outland Trophy Watch List recognizes 75 players in the country and Gardner is one of seven MWC players to be named to the list.

The FWAA will announce the Outland Trophy semifinalists on Nov. 20, and then those players will end up being cut down to a list of three finalists that will be announced on Nov. 26.

The Outland Trophy winner is chosen from the group of three finalists who will end up being part of the annual FWAA All-America Team. The FWAA All-America Committee, after taking in voting input from the entire staff, selects the 26-man first team.

And then by an individual ballot, members of the committee select the winner of the trophy. Only players on the interior for the offense or defense are eligible to win the award.

Stay tuned to College Football Dawgs as the season goes on, to see if Gardner takes home the Outland Trophy.