CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois running back Kendrick Foster was one of 40 FBS players named to the Dante Hall Award Watch List. The award honors college football's best offensive or special teams player that is under 6-feet tall.
The award's "X-Factor Trophy" will be presented at the Texas Bowl in Houston. The Dante Hall Award, named after the former Texas A&M and NFL great, benefits the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston.
Foster, who is listed at 5-9, leads the Illini with 172 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. He ran for two 56-yard touchdowns against Murray State on his way to an Illinois program record 29.5 yards per carry (4 carries, 118 yards). He added a 15-yard touchdown reception against North Carolina, while also carrying the ball a career-high 12 times for 54 yards and returning three kickoffs for 58 yards against the Tar Heels.
A selection committee of former players, coaches and media will invite three finalists to Houston for an award ceremony in December.
| Dante Hall Award Watch List |
| Player |
Ht, Wt |
School |
| Adoree Jackson |
5-11, 185 |
Southern California |
| William Lively |
5-7, 175 |
Maryland |
| Kavontae Turpin |
5-9, 153 |
TCU |
| Christian Kirk |
5-11, 200 |
Texas A&M |
| Donnel Pumphrey |
5-9, 170 |
San Diego State |
| Charles Nelson |
5-8, 170 |
Oregon |
| John Ross III |
5-11, 196 |
Washington |
| Janarion Grant |
5-11, 170 |
Rutgers |
| De'Mornay Pierson-El |
5-9, 185 |
Nebraska |
| Kade Harrington |
5-9, 192 |
Lamar |
| Speedy Noil |
5-11, 200 |
Texas A&M |
| T.J. Logan |
5-10, 190 |
North Carolina |
| Kermit Whitfield |
5-8, 182 |
Florida State |
| Dontre Wilson |
5-10, 195 |
Ohio State |
| Isaiah McKenzie |
5-8, 164 |
Georgia |
| Tyrell Johnson |
5-7, 165 |
Arizona |
| Jesus Wilson |
5-11, 176 |
Florida State |
| Barry Sanders Jr. |
5-10, 198 |
Oklahoma State |
| Cameron Batson |
5-9, 175 |
Texas Tech |
| Kendrick Foster |
5-9, 200 |
Illinois |
| Brandon Powell |
5-9, 184 |
Florida |
| Sam Rogers |
5-11, 230 |
Virginia Tech |
| Myles Willis |
5-9, 194 |
Boston College |
| Brandon Holloway |
5-8, 165 |
Mississippi State |
| Riley McCarron |
5-9, 186 |
Iowa |
| Tyler Rouse |
5-8, 198 |
Boston College |
| Saquon Barkley |
5-11, 223 |
Penn State |
| Steven Mitchell Jr. |
5-10, 190 |
Southern California |
| Victor Bolden Jr. |
5-9, 172 |
Oregon State |
| Matthew Dayes |
5-9, 213 |
North Carolina State |
| Rodney Smith |
5-11, 205 |
Minnesota |
| A.J. Turner |
5-10, 195 |
South Carolina |
| Charles Nelson |
5-9, 170 |
Oregon |
| Ray-Ray McCloud III |
5-10, 175 |
Clemson |
| Johnathan Johnson |
5-10, 175 |
Missouri |
| C.J. Sanders |
5-8, 185 |
Notre Dame |
Illini on 2016 Preseason Watch Lists (as of 9/13)
Kendrick Foster – Dante Hall Award (Under 6-feet tall)
Wes Lunt – Maxwell Award (Off. POY), Davey O'Brien Award (QB), Unitas Golden Arm Award (QB), Manning Award (QB)
Hardy Nickerson – Nagurski Trophy (Def. POY), Butkus Award (LB), Rotary Lombardi Award (POY)
Dawuane Smoot – Bednarik Award (Def. POY), Hendricks Award (DE), Rotary Lombardi Award (POY)
Joe Spencer – Rimington Trophy (C), Wuerffel Trophy (Community Service)
Ke'Shawn Vaughn – Doak Walker (RB)
