July 13, 2017
THE FLATS – Georgia Tech sophomore guard Parker Braun is one of 81 student-athletes on the official watch list for the 2017 Outland Trophy, the Football Writers Association of America announced on Thursday.
The Outland Trophy is presented to the nation’s top interior lineman (offensive or defensive – ends are not eligible). Braun is one of only 17 offensive guards and just five sophomores among the 81 student-athletes on the initial Outland watch list.
Braun was named to ESPN’s true freshman all-America team in 2016 after starting the final eight games of his rookie campaign at left guard. In his eight starts, the Yellow Jackets averaged 277.6 rushing yards and 31.1 points per game, up from the 225.1 rushing yards and 23.8 points per contest prior to his ascension to starter.
He became the first Georgia Tech freshman to ever be named ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week after recording 10 takedowns and helping the Yellow Jackets rush for 309 yards in a 30-20 win over No. 18 Virginia Tech. He also delivered the key block on a three-yard pickup on fourth-and-one from the Jackets’ own 15 yard line in the second quarter of the TaxSlayer Bowl, which sparked a 94-yard touchdown drive that gave Tech a commanding 17-3 lead late in the first half of a season-ending 33-18 triumph over Kentucky.
In all, the Yellow Jackets were 6-2 with Braun in the starting lineup last season.
The Outland Trophy watch list will be trimmed to six or seven semifinalists on Nov. 15 and three finalists will be named on Nov. 21. The winner of the 72nd Outland Trophy will be announced as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 7. The formal presentation of the award will be made on Jan. 10, 2018 in Omaha, Neb.
Braun and the Yellow Jackets open the 2017 campaign on Monday, Sept. 4 versus Tennessee in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at brand-new Mercedes-Benz Stadium in downtown Atlanta. Season tickets, which include a seat for the highly anticipated opener against Tennessee at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and Flex Packs, which allow fans to purchase tickets for any three, four, five or six games at Bobby Dodd Stadium – including the Nov. 25 showdown versus archrival Georgia – are on sale now.
Click HERE for more information and to purchase 2017 Georgia Tech football tickets online.
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