FOUR TIGERS MAKE BEDNARIK AWARD WATCH LIST
Junior defensive ends Sam Montgomery and Barkevious Mingo, junior cornerback Tyrann Mathieu and junior safety Eric Reid were named to the watch list for the Bednarik Award on Monday, given annually to college football’s defensive player of the year. LSU joined Alabama and Michigan State with four representatives on the watch list, the most for any school. LSU has produced back-to-back Bednarik winners, with former cornerback Patrick Peterson taking the award in 2010 and Mathieu bringing it home last season. If Mathieu wins again, he would become only the third repeat winner in history, along with Northwestern’s Pat Fitzgerald and Penn State’s Paul Posluszny. Semifinalists will be announced October 29, with three finalists being named November 19. The winner will be announced December 6 on the Home Depot ESPN College Football Awards Show. Preseason watch lists for all major college football awards will be unveiled each day for the rest of this week.
CHAVIS EARNING RESPECT IN NEW SEC TERRITORY
LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis already has respect from the new Tigers coming into the Southeastern Conference. In an article for the Columbia (Mo.) Tribune, Chavis is named the top assistant coach in the SEC, finishing ahead of Alabama offensive coordinator Kirby Smart and Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham. The Tribune also ranks Tiger defensive line coach Brick Haley No. 8 and put quarterbacks coach Steve Kragthorpe among “others who missed the cut.” After winning the Broyles Award, given to the country’s top assistant coach, last season, Chavis comes into this season spearheading an LSU defense that has been in the top three in SEC scoring defense every year since 2009. Tribune sports writer Dave Matter put it simply about Chavis’ remarkable run as Tiger defensive coordinator. “There might not be a better coordinator in the country,” Matter wrote. 
TRACK AND FIELD LEADS LSU’S SEC HONOR ROLL PICKS
The LSU athletic program placed 69 student-athletes on the SEC Spring Academic Honor Roll, released Monday by the SEC offices. The Spring Honor Roll is based on grades from the 2011 Summer and Fall terms and the 2012 Spring term. A total of 1,038 student-athletes were honored, each needing a grade point average of 3.00 at their institution. The track and field team led all Tiger athletic teams with 29 selections, 15 Tigers and 14 Lady Tigers. Mason Katz and Raph Rhymes led the baseball team to 11 selections, while Brittany Mack spearheaded 10 LSU softball players named to the Honor Roll.
 
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