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Two Tigers appear on preseason award watchlists
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- Two Tigers appear on preseason award watchlists
(USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)
On Friday, Memphis football announced that two Tigers appear on preseason award watchlists. Safety Ian Foster appears on the Chuck Bednarik watchlist, while running back Manny Covey appears on the Doak Walker watchlist.
The Chuck Bednarik Award is presented to the most outstanding defensive player in college football, while the Doak Walker Award is presented to the most outstanding running back.
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Foster joins William Whitlow Jr. and Chandler Martin as players who have appeared on the Bednarik Award watchlist. The winner of the award will be announced in December.
Foster landed with the Tigers from the transfer portal after following Charles Huff from Southern Miss . This will be the third school that Foster has played for after he began his career at Marshall.
The safety signed with the Thundering Herd as an unranked prospect, and he didn't play as a true freshman. He appeared in 13 games as a redshirt freshman and ended the season with 48 tackles and four pass deflections.
He entered the transfer portal and followed Huff to Southern Miss, and he recorded 76 tackles, seven pass deflections three interceptions and a sack. He led the team in interceptions and received Power Four interest in the transfer portal.
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He elected to follow his head coach again, and he could be one of the leaders of the defense this season.
Covey becomes the 10th Tiger to appear on the Dark Walker Award watchlist since 2004, and he's one of four players from the American on the list. He joins FAU's Leonard Farrow, ECU's Ashton Grey and North Texas' Jaheim White.
The running back signed with Cincinnati as a three-star recruit, and he redshirted during his first season with the Bearcats. As a redshirt freshman, he ran for 62 yards on 17 carries, and last season, he ran for 198 yards and a touchdown on 28 attempts.
In the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, he ran for 78 yards on 11 carries and was named Cincinnati's Offensive Player of the Game.
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The Tigers brought in multiple running backs this offseason in addition to Covey. Colorado transfer Dallan Hayden and Southern Miss transfer Jaylin Carter will also be in the running back rotation.
While most people are talking about the quarterback competition, the running back competition is probably the next biggest question on the roster.
Carter is believed to be the favorite by some with his relationship with the coaching staff, but Covey has received multiple preseason accolades. Hayden will also be a threat in the backfield after rushing for 1,185 yards in four season, including 553 yards at Ohio State as a freshman.
