Even before Les Miles blows the first official whistle to begin practice for the 2012 season, his LSU football team is already receiving national exposure.
Eight Tigers have been named to five separate preseason watch lists for end-of-the-season awards, with nine more lists set to be released in the coming week.
Senior tight end Chase Clement was named to the preseason watch list for the John Mackey Award on Tuesday, given to the nation’s top tight end each year.
Clement, who has nine career catches for 138 yards and one touchdown, joins seven other Southeastern Conference tight ends on the list.
Also released Tuesday, the Rimington Trophy preseason watch list, given to the nation’s best center each year, features LSU senior center P.J. Lonergan.
Lonergan has seen action at center in all four seasons, assuming the starting role in 2010. He has started 26 career games, with the Tigers compiling a 22-4 record.
The New Orleans native is one of ten SEC centers on the watch list, and played 677 snaps last season, recording 65.5 knockdowns.
Sophomore punter Brad Wing, fresh off a breakout freshman season, was named to the Ray Guy Award watch list Wednesday, becoming the first LSU punter to be named to the watch list since Chris Jackson in 2006.
Wing was named a First-Team All American by Sports Illustrated, the Associated Press, CBSsports.com and FoxSportsNext.net and was First-Team All-SEC.
His 44.4 yard-per-punt average ranked No. 11 nationally, and he placed 27 of his 59 punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard-line.
Senior placekicker Drew Alleman, named to the Lou Groza Award watch list Wednesday, shrugged off the honor on Twitter.
“Focus on the task at hand. Rewards will come later. One goal. #Miami,” Alleman tweeted Wednesday.
Alleman earned honorable mention All-American status from Sports Illustrated in 2011 after leading the conference in field goal percentage last season. He will enter 2012 with a streak of 10 straight field goals made and a career conversion percentage of .889.
A semifinalist for the Groza last season, Alleman was also named a Groza Star of the Week twice after the Tiger victories over Mississippi State and Alabama.
Clement, Lonergan, Wing and Alleman joined junior teammates Eric Reid, Barkevious Mingo, Sam Montgomery and Tyrann Mathieu on preseason award watch lists. The junior quartet was named to the Bednarik Award, given to the nation’s best defensive player, watch list Monday.
Contact Chandler Rome at [email protected].