Sophomore Ryan Crozier is one of 61 centers named to the watch list for the Rimington Trophy.

Five players have been added to the original watch list released in May although Crozier was on the list in May as well as being included in the updated watch list.

Crozier has been on the Rimington watch list in each of the last two seasons. Last year he suffered a knee injury forcing him to miss the 2015 season. Crozier returned and worked as the starting center during spring drills.

Crozier played as a true freshman in 2014 and took over as the starting left guard for the final three games of the season. Following the graduation of Alex Mateas, he was expected to take over as the starting center.

The John Mackey Award watch list was released on Wednesday morning and it was a little surprising that neither Tommy Myers nor Alec Bloom were among the 45 candidates for the award presented annually to the nation's best tight end.

ACADEMICS FIRST FOR GIACONIA
It's been previously reported that Valley Regional lineman Jack Giaconia would be among the Connecticut players joining the UConn football team as walk-ons.

The 2016 roster has not been posted yet so I reached out to the coaches of the local prospects expected to go the preferred walk-on route. Hamden Hall cornerback Kyle Williams is among those on the squad but Valley Regional/Old Lyme lineman Jack Giaconia is focusing on academics first but hasn't ruled out giving football a shot once he gets settled at UConn according to Valley Regional/Old Lyme coach Tim King.