Three Hoosiers named to preseason watch lists - Examiner.com

A trio of Indiana University football players have earned recognition to preseason award watch lists.

Fifth-year senior center Will Matte, junior tight end Ted Bolser, and junior kicker Mitch Ewald were named to the Rimington, Mackey, and Groza watch lists respectively. Each of the three IU players will be evaluated throughout the season, along with a host of other players, before a selection committee trims down the initial list. Finalists will be named in mid-November, and the eventual winner of each award named at ceremonies on December 6.

Matte , who also found a spot on the Rimington Trophy Spring Watch List, started the first 32 games of his career at center before suffering an injury in week eight at Wisconsin last season. He made nine starts and appeared in 10 games overall in 2011.

The seven-time game captain helped Indiana rush for 1,374 yards in Big Ten play, the program's highest total since 2001. IU posted five games with over 200 rushing yards, including a 319-yard effort against Northwestern - the most for the Hoosiers in a conference game since 2003.

The Rimington Award is named for former Nebraska All-American center Dave Rimington.

Meanwhile, Bolser is a member of the list for the second straight season. The Cincinnati native caught 14 passes for 165 yards with one touchdown and appeared in all 12 games in 2011.

As a freshman in 2010, Bolser hauled in 27 passes for 407 yards with five touchdowns and an average of 15.1 yards per catch. He set an IU tight end record, ranked first nationally among freshman tight ends and tied for seventh nationally among all tight ends in scores.

The Mackey Award is given to the nation's top tight end in memory of the late John Mackey, the former Baltimore Colts player and Hall of Famer.

Lastly, Ewald, who ranks as Indiana's all-time career field goal percentage leader, has made 29 field goals in 35 attempts (82.9 percent) and is a perfect 63-of-63 on extra points. His field goal percentage is also seventh among active kickers.

The Naperville, Ill., native’s 29 field goals are seventh on IU's career list and his 63 extra points are ninth. He is tied for third and eighth on the school's single-season field goals list and seventh on the school's single-season extra points list.

In 16 career Big Ten games, Ewald is 20-of-23 (87.0) from field goal range and 35-of-35 on extra points.

The Groza Award, given to the country's top placekicker, is named for National Football League Hall of Fame kicker Lou “The Toe” Groza, who played 21 seasons with the Cleveland Browns. Groza won four NFL championships with Cleveland and was named NFL Player of the Year in 1954.

Indiana opens the 2012 season at home against Indiana State on September 1.