DALLAS -- San Diego State juniors Cade Bennett and Cody Moon were each named to 2023 national watch lists, the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) announced Tuesday morning. Bennett was named to the Outland Trophy Watch List, while Moon landed on the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List.
Bennett is one of 91 named to the Outland Trophy Watch List, which goes out to the top interior linemen. Moon is one of 96 on the initial Bronko Nagurski Watch List and one of 29 linebackers up for the top defensive player.
Bennett is coming off an impressive first year with SDSU in 2022, earning second-team all-MW accolades by the league's coaches and media. An Oklahoma State transfer, Bennett started and played the first 12 games of the season (748 of the team's first 755 offensive snaps before an injury), allowing only six quarterback pressures (no sacks) in 367 passing opportunities. According to Pro Football Focus, his 82.4 pass block rating was the second highest in the MW among offensive linemen and first among MW guards (min. 300 pass opportunities).
Bennett has also been named a preseason first-team all-Mountain West selection by the league's media, Phil Steele Magazine, Athlon Sports and Sports Info Solutions.
The recipient of the 2023 Outland Trophy will be announced on The Home Depot College Football Awards, live on ESPN in December. The official presentation to the winner will be made at the Outland Trophy Awards Dinner sponsored by Werner Enterprises and produced by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee in Omaha, Nebraska, on Jan. 10, 2024. The Outland Trophy winner is chosen from three finalists who are a part of the annual FWAA All-America Team. The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the entire membership, selects a 26-man first team and eventually the three Outland finalists. Committee members, then by individual ballot, select the winner. Only interior linemen on offense or defense are eligible for the award; ends are not eligible.
Moon, meanwhile, earned honorable-mention accolades while with New Mexico in 2022, logging team highs of 105 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks after making 44 stops, 0.5 sacks, 1.5 tackles for loss, an interception, a pass breakup and a fumble recovery as a redshirt freshman in 2021. A former walk-on, Moon has compiled 21 tackles in two games against San Diego State, including 13 last year in the November meeting in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Like Bennett, Moon has also been named a preseason first-team all-Mountain West selection by the league's media, Phil Steele Magazine, Athlon Sports and Sports Info Solutions.
The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce finalists for the 2023 trophy on Nov. 15 and the winner will be unveiled Dec. 4 at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet in Charlotte, North Carolina.
SDSU finished the 2022 season with a 7-6 record and its streak of 13 consecutive years without a losing season is tied for the fifth-longest active streak in the country.
Five of San Diego State's first six games will be against teams that made a bowl game in 2022, including four 10-win programs in Ohio (10-4), Oregon State (10-3), Boise State (10-4) and Air Force (10-3), along with UCLA (9-4).
The Aztecs kick off their season on Aug. 26 against Ohio at Snapdragon Stadium.
Two Aztecs Named to Preseason Watch Lists
