SB Nation Preseason All-Americans: Gerald Hodges Makes Linebackers

SB Nation released its Preseason All-American Team for the upcoming 2012 college football season on Tuesday, and Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker Gerald Hodges made the honorable mentions list. Hodges, a member of the Butkus Award Watch List and the Lombardi Award Wach List, is so far the only Penn State player on the All-American list.

Last season, Hodges was named First-Team All-Big 10 Conference by the coaches and ESPN.com after leading the team with 106 tackles (60 solo) and collecting 4 1/2 sacks.

The other linebackers joining Hodges on the SB Nation Preseason All-America Team were: Jarvis Jones (Georgia), Manti Te'o (Notre Dame), Chris Borland (Wisconsin), Chase Thomas (Stanford), Arthur Brown (Kansas State), C.J. Mosley (Alabama) and Sean Porter (Texas A&M).

The complete Preseason All-American list can be found here.

For more on the Penn State football team, please be sure to check out our blog Black Shoe Diaries and SB Nation Pittsburgh or all the latest news and updates.

2012 Biletnikoff Award Watch List: Pitt's Mike Shanahan, Devin Street On List

Pitt wideouts Mike Shanahan and Devin Street have been named to the preseason watch list for the Biletnikoff Award, which is annually presented to the best wide receiver in all of college football. The Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, Inc. announced the candidates Tuesday morning.

The foundation will announce 10 semifinalists on Nov. 12, before narrowing the list down to three finalists on Nov. 19. A winner will be unveiled as part of the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show on Dec. 6.

Shanahan, a rising fifth-year senior hauled in 39 receptions for 493 yards and four touchdowns last season while starting 13 games for the Panthers. Street posted similarly impressive numbers with 53 catches for 754 yards and two touchdowns in helping guide the Panthers to the BBVA Compass Bowl.

For more on Pittsburgh, check out Cardiac Hill, SB Nation's Pitt Panthers blog. For coverage and commentary around the world of college football, be sure to visit SB Nation's college football hub.

Pittsburgh Safety Jarred Holley On 2012 Thorpe Award Watch List

The watch list for the 2012 Jim Thorpe Award has been released and it features Pittsburgh safety Jarred Holley as one of the 35 nominees for the award recognizing the nation's top defensive back.

Holley, a redshirt senior for the 2012 season, has been a starter since his redshirt freshman year and earned first team All-Big East honors for his play during the 2011 season. Holley has recorded nine career interceptions and even contributed beyond the line of scrimmage during his junior campaign, recording two sacks and five tackles for loss.

No Pittsburgh Panthers player has ever won the award since its introduction in 1986 and LSU has boasted each of the last two winners as well as two players on the 2012 watch list.

For more on Pittsburgh, check out Cardiac Hill. For coverage and commentary around the world of college football, be sure to visit SB Nation's college football hub.

College Football Awards 2012: Mackey, Rimington Watch Lists Feature Trio Of Penn State, Pitt Players

Preseason college football awards watch lists continued to trickle out this week. As most would expect, both Penn State and Pittsburgh are well represented on those lists. On Tuesday, watch lists for the Mackey Award and the Rimington Award were released.

The Mackey recognizes the nation's top tight end. The Rimington is awarded to the country's best center.

Pittsburgh Panthers tight end Hubie Graham made the first cut for the Mackey Award list. A redshirt junior, Graham transferred from Illinois, which left him off the field in 2010. Last season he caught 28 passes for 325 yards and three touchdowns.

Pitt center Ryan Turnley was on the Rimington watch list. A redshirt junior measuring 6-foot-6 and 320 pounds, Turnley can play all five positions along the line.

Turnley is joined on the Rimington watch list by Penn State center Matt Stankiewitch. Illness forced him to miss all but the first six games of the 2011 season, but he should be ready to roll for his senior year. At 6-foot-3 and 295 pounds, he has experience at both guard and center.

For more on Penn State, visit Black Shoe Diaries. For more on Pittsburgh, check out Cardiac Hill. For coverage and commentary around the world of college football, be sure to visit SB Nation's college football hub.

College Football Awards 2012: Pitt, Penn State Players Getting Early Recognition

Pittsburgh and Penn State both have a pair of players on the preseason watch list for college football's Bednarik and Maxwell awards.