ASU Football: Last round of award watch lists announced

During the last week of award watch lists announcements, ASU football had three players named to two lists, the Wuerffel and Doak Walker award watch lists.

This week marked the two-week announcement of award watch lists for the 2017 season and the Sun Devils landed on two more watch lists.

Defensive lineman Tashon Smallwood landed on his first award list, the Wuerffel Award watch list.

The award is given to the player who exemplifies community service with athletic and academic achievement.

On the field, Smallwood finished with 28 tackles, nine tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks and will be a key contributor for the Sun Devils.

Off the field, Smallwood does a lot of work in the community via Arizona State’s press release:

"A portion of Smallwood’s community involvement includes working with the Tempe Boys and Girls Club. Tashon also has participated in a Missions Trip to San Diego. He also volunteers with New Leaf Women’s and Children’s Shelter, offering assistance in a variety of areas, and with the Save A Life Foundation, helping to uplift the spirits of cancer patients."

Smallwood is one 12 Pac-12 players named to the watch list, which also includes nine players who were named to the watch list in 2016.

The Doak Walker Award watch list, the award given to the best running back in the nation, saw two Sun Devils make the list in Kalen Ballage and Demario Richard.

This is Ballage’s third award watch list he’s been named to joining the Maxwell Award watch list and the Paul Hornung Award watch list.

Ballage finished with a team-high 16 touchdowns (14 rushing, 1 receiving, 1 passing) and 1,035 total yards, including a record-setting eight touchdown performance versus Texas Tech.

Fellow tailback Richard was also named to the Doak Walker award watch list after finishing last season with 729 total yards and three touchdowns.

Ballage and Walker are facing stiff competition for the Doak Walker Award with Penn State running back Saquon Barkley and Auburn running back Kamryn Pettway two 2016 semifinalists who are on the watch list.

List also includes Georgia running back Nick Chubb and Colorado running back Phillip Lindsay.

Next: ASU Football: Defensive line positional breakdown

In total, Arizona State players landed on seven total award watch lists as the team gets camp underway July 25 with Pac-12 Media Days getting underway July 26.