TAMPA -- The number of USF football players on spring and preseason watch lists continues to grow. The latest addition is senior center Jake Griffin, who was named to the Rimington Trophy Spring Watch List on Wednesday afternoon.
It is the first such honor for the Seffner, Florida native. Griffin took over at center last season after an injury sidelined returning starter Nick Capogna. Griffin never missed a beat and held onto the starting job all season, even after Capogna returned from injury.
Griffin graded out at 80 percent during the 2007 season. He also collected 68 knockdowns and will enter the 2008 season having started 12 straight games.
The list includes two finalists from the 2007 Watch List, as well as the 2007 winner of the Rimington Trophy, Arkansas' Jonathan Luigs. The Trophy has not had a repeat winner in its history.
In all, there are 42 players on the Watch List, including three from the Big East. A total of seven players represent the Big-12 Conference. The PAC-10 Conference is represented by six players, while the ACC and SEC have five players each on the Watch List.
Griffin joins teammates George Selvie (Lott Trophy, Lombardi), Tyrone McKenzie (Lott Trophy) and Ryan Schmidt (Outland) on early watch list for college football individual awards.
