RENO, Nev. – Nevada offensive lineman Tyler Orsini has been named to the Rimington Trophy Watch List and tight end Cole Turner has landed on the John Mackey Award Watch List, the two organizations announced Friday.
In its 18th season, the Rimington Trophy is presented annually to the most outstanding center in NCAA Division I College Football. The John Mackey Award is given annually to the most outstanding collegiate tight end.
Orsini (6-2, 295) started all nine games at center in 2020, earning All-Mountain West honorable mention. Prior to the 2021 season, Orsini has been named Pro Football Focus (PFF) Preseason All-Mountain West First Team, along with earning Athlon Sports Preseason All-Mountain West Third Team. The Ventura, Calif., native is the only Mountain West student-athlete named to the Rimington Trophy preseason watch list.
Turner (6-6, 240), tabbed to the 2020 All-Mountain West First Team, finished second on the team in receptions (49) and receiving yards (605), ranking 10th among all Mountain West receivers with 67.2 receiving yards per game. Turner also shared the conference crown in touchdown receptions with teammate Romeo Doubs (9). Turner, who was named to the Biletnikoff preseason watch list earlier this week, has also grabbed preseason All-Mountain West accolades from Phil Steele (First Team), Athlon Sports (First Team) and PFF (Second Team).
The Rimington Trophy committee works with PFF to narrow down its list to the top 40 centers. PFF grades every player on every play of every game on how well they execute their given assignment. The play-by-play grading allows the Trophy committee to create a watch list based on both nominations from schools and data provided by PFF.
The John Mackey Award is selected by vote of the John Mackey Award Selection Committee. Turner is one of four Mountain West student-athletes on the Mackey Award watch list, joining Colorado State's Trey McBride, San Jose State's Derrick Deese and San Diego State's Daniel Bellinger.
The Pack opens the 2021 season on Sept. 4 at Cal.
