Palko, Blades, Revis earn pre-season honors

Pitt quarterback Tyler Palko didn’t have the season that everybody had expected when the… Pitt quarterback Tyler Palko didn’t have the season that everybody had expected when the Panthers finished with a 5-6 record last year.

Thankfully, the sports world believes in second chances.

Last week, the redshirt senior was named to the “watch list” of a prestigious college football award — the Maxwell Award, granted to the year’s best collegiate football player.

Although this is the first pre-season award for Palko since being named to the Heisman Trophy “watch list” prior to last season, teammates H.B. Blades and Darelle Revis have been bringing in the accolades left and right.

Also last week, Blades was named to the “watch list” for the Chuck Bednarik award, given annually to the best collegiate defensive player, as well as the Bronko Nagurski Trophy “watch list” with Revis. The Nagurski Trophy also awards college football’s best defensive player.

Palko, after having a stellar sophomore season throwing for 24 touchdowns compared to just seven interceptions, was considered before last season to be one of the nation’s top quarterbacks.

However, with the departure of former head coach Walt Harris to Stanford and the introduction of current head coach Dave Wannstedt, Palko switched offenses and was forced to learn a tougher, run-oriented offensive scheme that allowed Palko fewer passing attempts, which led to seemingly lackluster numbers.

However, the senior is back for his final season and is known by many to be a tough leader and a hard worker. If he plans on being a finalist for the Maxwell Award, he’ll have more hard work ahead of him.

The pre-season “watch list” is compiled annually by the Maxwell Football Club Advisory Committee, and is comprised of 60 Division I-A college football players considered to be the nation’s best.

In October, the committee will select 12 semifinalists, who will then be trimmed down to three finalists in the following month. The winner will be announced at the Home Depot College Football Awards Show in December.

Although this marks Palko’s first pre-season award, Blades has been hauling in pre-season accolades with ease. More notably, the middle linebacker, along with Revis, was named to defensive All-America teams put out by Playboy, Lindy’s and Athlon Sports.

The winners for the Bednarik Award will also be named at December’s Home Depot College Football Awards Show.

The Bronko Nagurski Trophy, is also awarded annually to the country’s best defensive college football player. The 56-man “watch list” will be trimmed down to 11 in November when the Football Writers Association of America All-America Committee selects its defensive All-America team. From the 11, the winner will be chosen.

Both Blades and Revis are formidable candidates for the award. Blades led the Big East Conference last year with 121 total tackles and ranked 13th nationally with 11 tackles per game.

Although Revis’ stats aren’t as impressive on the surface, the lack of numbers is largely because of opposing quarterbacks avoiding throwing to his side.

Nonetheless, Revis was the only sophomore to garner first-team All-Big East honors last year, and is considered to be a high-round draft pick in the NFL Draft this year, should he decide to declare.

Pitt opens its season Sept. 2 at Heinz Field against Virginia.