TCU Football Players in Contention for Major Awards for 2023-24 Season

The following TCU football players are in contention for major awards for the 2023 season:

Josh Newton (#2), cornerback, senior:

• Watch list for the 2023 Lott IMPACT Trophy. Named after Pro Football Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, the Lott Trophy is presented annually to the defensive player who has the biggest impact for his team on and off the field. TCU's Jerry Hughes was the 2009 recipient.
• Watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, presented to the nation's top defensive player.
• Watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Award, presented annually to the nation's outstanding defensive player.
• Watch list for the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, presented annually to the nation's top defensive back. With Tre'von Moehrig (2020) and Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson (2022), TCU has produced two of the last three recipients of the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award. Moehrig is in his third season with the Las Vegas Raiders. Hodges-Tomlinson is a rookie with the Los Angeles Rams.
• Named to the 2023 Texas Bowl Lone Star Player of the Year Award Preseason Watch List. The award will be presented annually to the most outstanding college football player from an institution in the State of Texas as determined by media and the Gridiron Legends. The Lone Star Player of the Year Award is the first award to honor the top college football player in Texas. As part of the inaugural award, 50 student-athletes representing each Football Bowl Subdivision program in Texas have been named to the preseason Watch List.
• Selected to the watch list for the Reese's Senior Bowl, college football's premier All-Star Game.
• Watch list for the Wuerffel Trophy, college football's premier award for community service, and a nominee for the AFCA Good Works Team, a coveted community service award in college football. Newton has volunteered over the last year at the Tarrant Area Food Bank and with Special Olympics in Fort Worth. He is also a regular visitor at local elementary schools and churches to read and speak to kids. Additionally, he has served as a youth football coach and participated in food drives in his hometown of Monroe, La.
• Named to The Associated Press preseason All-America team.
• Preseason All-America honors from Athlon Sports and Preseason All-America honors from Phil Steele.
• Named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team, selected by conference media.

Newton was First-Team All-Big 12 in his first season at TCU, after transferring from the University of Louisiana-Monroe. He started all 15 games and ranked second on the team and in the Big 12 with 12 pass breakups, trailing only teammate and 2022 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award winner Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson (15).

Newton tied for second on the Horned Frogs with three interceptions, including one returned 57 yards for a touchdown in a win over Iowa State. He totaled 35 stops on the year. He had three tackles, including one for loss, in the College Football Playoff Semifinal victory over Michigan. He recorded a tackle for loss at Colorado on the opening play of the season and his first snap as a Horned Frog. 

Pro Football Focus (PFF) rated Newton's 81.9 grade as the best among TCU cornerbacks last season. PFF also had him fourth among Power Five cornerbacks with a 35.3 percent completion rate allowed and as the third-most valuable returning Power Five corner, per its wins above average metric.

Newton's 47 career starts tie for the most among active players in college football. 

Johnny Hodges (#57), linebacker, junior:

• Named to the watch list for the 2023 Lott IMPACT Trophy. Named after Pro Football Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, the Lott Trophy is presented annually to the defensive player who has the biggest impact for his team on and off the field. TCU's Jerry Hughes was the 2009 recipient.
• Named to the 2023 Texas Bowl Lone Star Player of the Year Award Preseason Watch List. The award will be presented annually to the most outstanding college football player from an institution in the State of Texas as determined by media and the Gridiron Legends. The Lone Star Player of the Year Award is the first award to honor the top college football player in Texas. As part of the inaugural award, 50 student-athletes representing each Football Bowl Subdivision program in Texas have been named to the preseason Watch List.
• Named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team selected by conference media.

Hodges was the 2022 Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year and second-team all-conference. His team-best 87 tackles, which included 9.5 for loss, were the most by a Horned Frog since Garret Wallow had 90 in 2020. Hodges was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week after a season-high 11 stops, including 1.5 for loss, as TCU held Texas to no offensive touchdowns and just 199 yards of offense in a 17-10 win in Austin. He had 10 tackles in wins over Oklahoma and Oklahoma State and five stops, including one for loss, in the College Football Playoff Semifinal victory over Michigan.

TCU's Sonny Dykes was the only FBS head football coach to offer Hodges a scholarship when he transferred from Navy.

Damonic Williams (#52), defensive lineman, sophomore:

• Named to the watch list for the Lombardi Award, presented annually to college football's top lineman. Former TCU standout Jerry Hughes, now with the Houston Texans in his 14th NFL season, was a 2009 finalist for the Lombardi Award. 
• Named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team selected by conference media. 
• Named to the 2023 Texas Bowl Lone Star Player of the Year Award Preseason Watch List. The award will be presented annually to the most outstanding college football player from an institution in the State of Texas as determined by media and the Gridiron Legends. The Lone Star Player of the Year Award is the first award to honor the top college football player in Texas. As part of the inaugural award, 50 student-athletes representing each Football Bowl Subdivision program in Texas have been named to the preseason Watch List. 

Williams earned Freshman All-America honors and was Honorable-Mention Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year last season. He started all 15 games and made his TCU debut at the age of 17 in the season-opening win at Colorado. He had an immediate impact when he combined on a stop for no gain when the Buffaloes went for it on 4th-and-1 at the TCU 15 on the game's opening series. He totaled 27 tackles on the year, including a career-high six with one for loss in the victory over Oklahoma State. He posted a sack in the 55-24 rout of Oklahoma and 1.5 TFLs with a forced fumble in the 38-28 win over Kansas State.

Griffin Kell (#39), placekicker, senior:

• Named to the watch list for the Lou Groza Award, presented annually to the nation's top place-kicker. TCU's Michael Reeder won the 1995 Lou Groza Award.
• Named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team selected by conference media. 
• Named to the 2023 Texas Bowl Lone Star Player of the Year Award Preseason Watch List. The award will be presented annually to the most outstanding college football player from an institution in the State of Texas as determined by media and the Gridiron Legends. The Lone Star Player of the Year Award is the first award to honor the top college football player in Texas. As part of the inaugural award, 50 student-athletes representing each Football Bowl Subdivision program in Texas have been named to the preseason Watch List.

Kell was First-Team All-Big 12 last season as he went 17-of-19 on field goals, including a 40-yard kick as time expired to beat Baylor, 29-28, and provide one of the nation's most memorable plays of the year.

Kell’s 89.5 made percentage tied for 14th nationally, while his 12 consecutive makes equaled the fifth-best streak in TCU history. He had a career long 54-yard field goal against Iowa State and made a season-best three field goals in the 43-40 double-overtime win over Oklahoma State. His fourth quarter 33-yard field goal provided TCU's final points in the 51-45 College Football Playoff Semifinal win over Michigan.

Jordy Sandy (#31), punter, senior:

• Selected to the watch list for the Ray Guy Award, presented to the nation's top punter.

A two-time All-Big 12 selection, including an honorable-mention recipient last season, Sandy had only three touchbacks on 63 punts in his fourth season as a starter in 2022. Opponents had just seven punt returns for 45 yards with 39 fair catches. He had five punts of at least 50 yards, including a key 50-yard boot late in the College Football Playoff Semifinal win over Michigan to pin the Wolverines at their 25 before a 4-and-out to seal TCU's victory. He also had a 51-yard punt in the game.

Sandy donated $20 to Fort Worth's Hope Center for Autism for each punt inside the 20-yard line during the 2022 season and will continue to do so this season. His total last year was $360, with 18 punts inside the 20.

Sandy has been the holder on PATs and field goals the last four seasons.

John Lanz (#53), offensive lineman, graduate student:

• Selected to the watch list for the Rimington Trophy, presented annually to the nation's top center. TCU’s Jake Kirkpatrick won the 2010 Rimington Trophy.

Lanz appeared in 14 games last season. He placed sixth among TCU offensive linemen with 489 snaps played, including a season-best 61 in the 38-28 win over Kansas State. Lanz has played in 29 games in his TCU career with 12 starts.

Jared Wiley (#19), tight end, senior:

• Named to the watch list for the John Mackey Award, presented annually to the nation's top tight end.

Wiley was All-Big 12 last season in his first year as a Horned Frog. He placed fifth on TCU with a personal-best 24 receptions, surpassing his career total (19) entering the season after three years at Texas.

Wiley tied for fourth on the team with four touchdown catches, including a 10-yard reception from Max Duggan with 1:57 to play to tie the Oklahoma State game at 30-30 as TCU rallied from a 17-point deficit for a 43-40 double-overtime win. He also caught the game-tying 2-point pass from Duggan with 1:51 remaining to cap TCU's 11-point fourth quarter comeback in the Big 12 Championship Game against Kansas State. He totaled a career-high five receptions for 74 yards, including a 4-yard touchdown, in the 38-28 regular-season win over K-State.

Chandler Morris (#4), quarterback, sophomore:

• Named to the watch list for the Maxwell Award, presented annually to the outstanding player in college football. TCU's Davey O'Brien won the 1938 Maxwell Award. TCU's Max Duggan was a semifinalist last season. 
• Named to the watch list for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, presented to the nation's offensive player of the year who was either born in Texas, graduated from a Texas high school or plays at a Texas college. The award is named after Tyler, Texas, native and football legend Earl Campbell. Former TCU quarterbacks Trevone Boykin (2014) and Max Duggan (2022) are past recipients. 
• Named to the 2023 Texas Bowl Lone Star Player of the Year Award Preseason Watch List. The award will be presented annually to the most outstanding college football player from an institution in the State of Texas as determined by media and the Gridiron Legends. The Lone Star Player of the Year Award is the first award to honor the top college football player in Texas. As part of the inaugural award, 50 student-athletes representing each Football Bowl Subdivision program in Texas have been named to the preseason Watch List.

Morris began last season as the Horned Frogs' starting quarterback before being injured. Morris made his first career start in a 30-28 win over No. 12 Baylor in 2021. He earned Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honors after recording 531 yards of offense (461 passing, 70 rushing), the second-best total in TCU history. He also had a 7-yard reception in the game. The 461 yards passing were the fourth-most by a Horned Frog and ranked third in Big 12 history for a player in his first career start. It was also the third-most nationally since 2012 for a player in his first career start. Morris had TCU's first 400-yard passing game since Kenny Hill threw for 449 versus Oklahoma in 2016.

Emani Bailey (#9), running back, junior:

• Named to the watch list for the Doak Walker Award, presented to the nation's top running back. TCU's LaDainian Tomlinson won the 2000 Doak Walker Award.

In his first year as a Horned Frog, Bailey, after transferring from the University of Louisiana, had an 8.1 yards per carry average that led the Big 12 last season. He placed fourth on TCU with 250 yards rushing while adding seven receptions, playing behind NFL-bound Kendre Miller (New Orleans Saints) and Emari Demercado (Arizona Cardinals). Bailey's 30-yard touchdown run with 24 seconds left in the second quarter at West Virginia gave TCU a 28-21 halftime lead it would not relinquish. He rushed for a season-best 58 yards on 11 carries while adding two receptions in the victory over Iowa State.

Trey Sanders (#2), running back, junior:

• Named to the watch list for the Doak Walker Award, presented to the nation's top running back. TCU's LaDainian Tomlinson won the 2000 Doak Walker Award.

Sanders is in his first season at TCU after transferring from Alabama, where he totaled 528 yards rushing and three touchdowns. He ran for 67 yards in the Crimson Tide's 2021 College Football Playoff win over Cincinnati and a career-high 80 yards in a 2020 victory against Mississippi State. Coming out of IMG Academy, Sanders was rated the nation's No. 1 running back by 247Sports and No. 3 overall player in the country by Rivals.

Brandon Coleman (#77), offensive lineman, senior:

• Named to the watch list for the Lombardi Award, presented annually to college football's top lineman. Former TCU standout Jerry Hughes, now with the Houston Texans in his 14th NFL season, was a 2009 finalist for the Lombardi Award.
• Named to the watch list for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, presented to the nation's offensive player of the year who was either born in Texas, graduated from a Texas high school or plays at a Texas college. The award is named after Tyler, Texas, native and football legend Earl Campbell. Former TCU quarterbacks Trevone Boykin (2014) and Max Duggan (2022) are past recipients.

Coleman started all 15 games at left tackle last season, placing third on the TCU offense with 1,036 snaps played. Dating back to the 2021 campaign, he has started 23 of the Horned Frogs' last 24 contests. Pro Football Focus has Coleman as the third-highest graded returning offensive lineman in the Big 12.

Brent Matiscik (#42), snapper/tight end, junior:

• Selected to the watch list for the Patrick Mannelly Award, presented to the nation's top long snapper. The award is named after longtime NFL snapper Patrick Mannelly, who played 16 years (1998-2013) with the Chicago Bears. Former TCU snapper Antonio Ortiz was a 2021 semifinalist for the Patrick Mannelly Award.

Matiscik will be in his second season as the Horned Frogs' starting snapper. The McKinney, Texas, native started all 15 games last year and was instrumental in place-kicker Griffin Kell earning First-Team All-Big 12 recognition with punter Jordy Sandy Honorable-Mention All-Big 12. Matiscik, whose brother Ross snaps for the Jacksonville Jaguars, is a two-time Academic All-Big 12 recipient.

Savion Williams (#3), wide receiver, junior:

• Named to the watch list for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, presented to the nation's offensive player of the year who was either born in Texas, graduated from a Texas high school or plays at a Texas college. The award is named after Tyler, Texas, native and football legend Earl Campbell. Former TCU quarterbacks Trevone Boykin (2014) and Max Duggan (2022) are past recipients.

Williams started all 15 games last season and is TCU's top returning receiver with 29 catches a year ago, placing fourth on the team. He had a career-best five receptions in the 62-14 victory over Iowa State in the regular-season finale for his second straight game with a new high in catches. He totaled four receptions for 54 yards the previous week in the 29-28 win at Baylor. Williams had a personal-best 97 yards receiving, including a career long 57-yard reception and a 29-yard touchdown as part of three catches in the 41-31 win at West Virginia. He provided TCU’s first points of the game with 19-yard touchdown catches in consecutive wins over SMU and Oklahoma.