On Tuesday morning, Miami Hurricanes Center Tyler Gauthier was named to the 2018 Outland Trophy Watchlist.

Here is the preseason watch list for the @OutlandTrophy presented by @NFIDVaccines, featuring 82 of college football's best interior linemen https://t.co/D0vADtadJ7 pic.twitter.com/4L0lGDS8BA — FWAA (@TheFWAA) July 24, 2018

A junior from Venice, FL, Gauthier has previously been listed as a candidate for the Rimington Award, given annually to the nation’s top Center. He will undoubtedly be a key member of Miami’s offensive line, which looks to raise its level of play and enable Miami’s multitude of skill players to flourish in 2018.

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.

Houston DT Ed Oliver is the reigning and returning Outland Trophy winner. He was the first sophomore to win the award.

Miami has had several Outland winners in the past, with Russell Maryland winning in 1990 and Bryant McKinnine winning in 2001.

The Outland Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 24 awards now boast over 800 recipients, dating to 1935. Visit ncfaa.org to learn more about the NCFAA.

The Outland Trophy, now in its 73rd year, is the third-oldest major college football award. Created in 1946 when Dr. John Outland presented the FWAA with a financial contribution to initiate the award, the Outland Trophy has been given to the best interior lineman in college football ever since. Dr. Outland, an All-American at the University of Pennsylvania in the late 1890s, eventually took up practice in Kansas City, Mo. An avid outdoorsman, Dr. Outland believed linemen did not get the credit they deserved and wanted an award to recognize them.

Congrats to Tyler on this recognition.

Go Canes