Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

COLUMBUS — Ohio State fans aren’t the only ones watching the Buckeyes.
Representatives and voters for several of the college football awards have announced watch list that include some of the Buckeyes led by junior defensive end Nick Bosa and sophomore running back J.K. Dobbins.
An All-American from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Bosa has been named to the watch list for the 82nd Maxwell Award given to the Player of the Year as well as the 24th Bednarik Award for the best defensive player.
Besides being a first team American Football Coaches Association All-American last season, Bosa became the fourth consecutive Buckeye to earn the Big Ten Conference Smith-Brown defensive lineman of the year award.
Nick’s brother Joey — now with the San Diego Chargers — won the award in 2014 and 2015 while Tyquan Lewis was voted the honor in 2016.
Bosa led Ohio State in tackles for a loss (16) and tackles for lost yardage (74) along with a team-high eight quarterback sacks. He was second in the Big Ten in both TFL and sacks.
Named an All-American as a freshman, Dobbins is also on the Maxwell Award list as well as the Doak Walker Award as the nation’s best running back.
As a true freshman from LaGrange (Texas) High School, Dobbins started all 14 games and set the school freshman record with 1,403 rushing yards while posting 7.2 yards per carry, the second highest average in Buckeye history.
Dobbins ranked seventh nationally in yards per carry and was second in the Big Ten in rushing yards and yards per game (100.2).
He has six 100-yard rushing games including 101 against Michigan’s No. 3 ranked total defense, 174 yards against Wisconsin’s No. 1-ranked rush defense and 124 yards against Michigan State’s No. 3 rated rush defense.
Red-shirt sophomore tight end Luke Farrell is another Buckeye to watch. Farrell was named to the Mackey Award watch list for the best tight end.
Farrell is from Perry, Ohio, and the most experienced tight end for the Buckeyes. He played in eight games last season.
Farrell is a two-time Ohio State scholar-athlete and last season earned his first Big Ten All-Academic award. He is majoring in exercise science.