3 Hoosiers named to preseason football award watch lists

With the opening of fall practice less than a month away, watch lists for each of the major individual college football awards have been released and include a trio of IU players.

Senior wide receiver Damarlo Belcher is one of 75 candidates for the Fred Biletnikoff Award, which is given each year to the nation’s top wide receiver.

Belcher, listed at 6 feet 5 inches and 214 pounds, led IU with 78 receptions and 832 yards last season. With 28 catches and 802 yards this coming season, Belcher could surpass James Hardy to become the career leader in both categories for IU.

Another pass-catcher up for an accolade is sophomore tight end Ted Bolser. Bolser, 6 feet 6 inches and 240 pounds, is a candidate for the John Mackey Award. Named for the recently deceased Syracuse great, the award is given annually to the country’s best tight end. Bolser was a Freshman All-American according to Rivals.com last season after amassing 27 catches for 407 yards.

Sophomore kicker Mitch Ewald is on the watch list for the Lou Groza Award, an award given to the nation’s most outstanding kicker. After a redshirt season, Ewald hit 16 of 19 field goal attempts and was perfect on 33 extra point opportunities.