ASU’s Salamo Fiso, Demario Richard named to preseason watch lists
Jul 5, 2016, 9:45 AM
Left: Arizona State's Demario Richard, middle, beats Cal Poly's Burt De Koning (11) and Joseph Gigantino III (36) to the end zone for a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) // Right: Weber State quarterback Billy Green, left, tries to avoid a sack by Arizona State linebacker Salamo Fiso during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Thursday, Aug. 28, 2014, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)
(AP Photo/Matt York)
Two Sun Devil football standouts – one from each side of the football – were named to preseason award watch lists, the Maxwell Football Club announced Tuesday.
Redshirt senior linebacker Salamo Fiso was placed on the Chuck Bednarik Award watch list for the award that honors the College Defensive Player of the Year. Fiso led the Sun Devils last season in tackles with 99 and solo tackles with 78, and was second on the team in sacks (4.5) and tackles for loss (20).
Entering his final season, Fiso has made 32 straight starts with 36 in his career. He’s currently just 60 solo tackles shy of tying ASU’s school record for a career, as Brett Wallerstedt currently holds the record of 238 from 1989-92.
Meanwhile, junior running back Demario Richard is now on the preseason watch list for the Maxwell Award, given to the College Player of the Year. Last season, Richard led the team 1,104 rushing yards, 1,407 yards from scrimmage and seven rushing touchdowns.
Richard is one of 12 players from the Pac-12 on the 2016 Maxwell Award watch list, including Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey. Fiso joins a list of 10 players from the Pac-12 for the Bednarik watch list.
Last year, ASU had three players on these watch lists; receiver D.J. Foster and quarterback Mike Bercovici made the Maxwell Award watch list, while cornerback Lloyd Carrington was on the Bednarik Award preseason watch list. All three of those players have since finished their college careers.
