NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion University football junior center Nick Clarke was named to the Rimington Trophy Watch List, while senior tight end Melvin Vaughn was named to the John Mackey Award Watch List. The Rimington Trophy is given to the best center in FBS, while the Mackey Award is given to the best tight end in the country.
Clarke started all 13 games at center for the Monarchs as a sophomore, helping ODU set a single-season school record for rushing yards in a season with 2,559, and lead Conference USA in rushing yards per game with 196.8. Clarke was also part of a group that allowed just 19 sacks, the second fewest in C-USA.
A native of Mechanicsville, Virginia, Clarke has started 19 games at center for ODU and has made 22 starts in his career.
Last season has a junior, Vaughn caught 22 passes for 233 yards and a touchdown. In 35 career games, Vaughn has 71 receptions for 697 yards and four touchdowns.
Clarke and Vaughn joined running back Ray Lawry on preseason watch lists, as Lawry was on the Maxwell Award Watch List announced on Monday, given to the player of the year in FBS.