Freeman Named to Outland Trophy Watch List

July 8, 2011

CLEMSON, SC – Clemson junior Dalton Freeman is the only ACC center who has been named to the 2011 Outland Trophy Watch List. The Outland Trophy is presented each year to the best interior lineman in college football by the Football Writers Association of America. The award will be presented in Orlando, FL on December 8 at the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on ESPN.

Freeman is one of seven ACC players on the list, and one of just 11 centers nationally. The native of Pelion, SC is joined on the list by ACC players Andrew Datko of Florida State, Blake DeChristopher of Virginia Tech, Marcus Forston of Miami (FL), Tydreke Powell of North Carolina, Omoregie Uzzi of Georgia Tech and Brandon Washington of Miami (FL).

Freeman is in his third year as Clemson’s starting center. He has started each of the last 22 games and has played 26 in a row entering this year. He had 58 knockdown blocks last year, second on the team, when he started all 13 games. He allowed just two sacks all year and had an 80.6 average film grade from the Clemson coaching staff. He also made first-team Academic All-ACC last year.

In 2009, he started nine of the 14 games and was the first freshman to serve as Clemson’s starting center over the course of the season since 1943. He was a first-team Freshman All-American by Collegefootballnews.com when he helped the Tigers to the ACC Atlantic Division Championship.

Freeman is the fifth Clemson player named to a preseason watch list this week. Only one, Dawson Zimmerman, is a senior.