CHAMPAIGN — Two of the more productive Illinois football players received preseason recognition.
Quarterback Wes Lunt and defensive end Dawuane Smoot found their names on two preseason award watch lists that were unveiled on Tuesday.
Lunt, who threw for 2,761 yards, 14 touchdowns and six interceptions last season, is on the Maxwell Award watch list. The award, handed out every year since 1937, is given to college football’s top player. Lunt was one of 90 players on the watch list and one of 32 quarterbacks. Lunt joined fellow Big Ten quarterbacks Tommy Armstrong Jr. (Nebraska), J.T. Barrett (Ohio State), C.