BYU lands two on 2019 Outland Trophy preseason watch list

DALLAS – BYU football players Khyiris Tonga and Brady Christensen were both named to the preseason watch list for the 2019 Outland Trophy presented by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.

The Outland Trophy is awarded to the nation’s best interior lineman by the Football Writers Association of America. 

Tonga, a 6-foot-4, 325-pounder from West Valley, Utah, has played in 26 games for the Cougars as he enters his junior season. Tonga totaled 30 tackles last season with 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.

Christensen started all 13 games at left tackle last season as a redshirt freshman. The 6-foot-6, 295-pound Bountiful, Utah, product, was ranked No. 2 by Pro Football Focus among freshman tackles in 2018.

BYU has had two Outland Trophy winners in the past and is one of only 17 schools to boast two recipients: Mo Elewonibi in 1989 and Jason Buck in 1986.

The recipient of the 74th Outland Trophy will be announced during ESPN's The Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 12, live from the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta. The official presentation to the winner will be made at the NFID Outland Trophy Awards Dinner sponsored by Werner Enterprises and produced by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee on Jan. 15, 2020. Up to eight semifinalists will be named on Nov. 20 in Omaha and three finalists for the award will be announced on Nov. 25.