TEMPE – Sun Devil Football head coach Herm Edwards has been named to the midseason watch list for the 2019 Dodd Trophy, officials from the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl announced today. The list includes 22 of the nation's top college football coaches representing seven conferences and Notre Dame.
The Dodd Trophy, college football's most coveted coaching award, celebrates the head coach of a team who enjoys success on the gridiron, while also stressing the importance of scholarship, leadership and integrity – the three pillars of legendary coach Bobby Dodd's philosophy.
Edwards has led the Sun Devils to a 5-1 record through the first half of the season and the team enters the weekend ranked No. 17 in both the AP and Coaches Polls. ASU is tied for first at the top of the Pac-12 South standings and lays claim to two wins over ranked teams to its credit this season – tied for the most in the FBS and the only team with two road victories over ranked opponents.
Edwards and his staff have admirably incorporated a professional model of football, a byproduct of which are close games often not decided until late in the game. Four consecutive games this season have been decided by a touchdown or less, with ASU coming out on top in three of those.
ASU has played eight total games decided by four points or less in the Herm Edwards era, the most in the FBS since the start of last year.ASU's six wins in games of four points or less (6-2) is tied with Nevada for the best in college football the past two seasons.
The Sun Devils have produced three fourth-quarter come-from-behind victories this season, a total that leads the FBS. In two years under Herm Edwards, the Sun Devils have five victories when trailing at any point in the fourth quarter, tied with five other teams for most in the nation.
This 2019 Sun Devils feature a slew a fresh faces and a roster that has seen 29 true or redshirt freshmen take the field this season, including starting quarterback Jayden Daniels. The true frosh was the first evil true freshman quarterback to start the season for the Sun Devils and sits in the Top-30 nationally in a number of offensive and quarterback categories and advanced metrics. Daniels has been a multiple-time Pac-12 Freshman of the Week thus far and has earned recognition on The Athletic's Midseason Freshman All-America team.
Edwards has also helped see the emergence of 2018 All-American and one of the elite running backs in the country in Eno Benjamin over the past two seasons. The junior tailback has earned 224 yards after contact in Pac-12 games, the most in the Pac-12 and tied for 15th among FBS running backs since Week 4. His 106.7 yards per game in Pac-12 games only are currently tops in the league. Benjamin leads the Pac-12 with seven rushing touchdowns this season (13th nationally). His nine total touchdowns are also 9th nationally and lead the league. He leads the Pac-12 in yards from scrimmage (714), scrimmage yards per game (119.0), and touches (144) as well.
Defensively, the Sun Devils have thrived behind a tough scoring defense and the ability to limit the big play. ASU has held opponents to 30 or less points in 13 of 19 games in defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales' scheme, notable as it DID allow 30+ in 32 of 43 previous games dating back in a span from 2013-17. ASU is currently ranked 16th in the country in allowing just 17.7 points per game.
ASU has allowed just seven plays over 30 yards this season,a total tied for 16th nationally. The Sun Devils are one of just 10 teams nationally to not give up a 50-yard play on the year. ASU's run defense has been especially efficient, leading the FBS with only 10 plays allowed over 10 yards this season.
The midseason watch list was created through a selection process by the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, taking into consideration each program's current performance during the 2019 season, Academic Progress Rate (APR), and each coach's commitment to service and charity in the community.
A panel consisting of all previous winners, national media, a member of the Dodd family and a College Football Hall of Fame members will identify a list of finalists at the conclusion of the 2019 season. The winner of the 2019 Dodd Trophy will be announced in Atlanta during bowl week at this year's College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
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About the Dodd Trophy
The Dodd Trophy was established in 1976 to honor the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division 1A) head football coach whose program represents the highest ideals on and off the field. The award honors the coach of a team which enjoys a successful football season, while also stressing the importance of academic excellence and character, as did Coach Dodd's teams during his 22 years as head football coach of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Coach Dodd remains one of college football's legendary figures, both as a coach and a player. Coach Dodd was a native of Galax, Virginia, and played his college ball at the University of Tennessee where his team had 27 wins, one loss and two ties during the three years he played. Coach Dodd was selected to the National College Football Hall of Fame both as a coach and as a player. Additional information about the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation can be found atwww.TheDoddTrophy.com. For news, updates and insider information, follow us on Twitter at @DoddTrophy or find us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/DoddTrophy.
About Peach Bowl, Inc.
Peach Bowl, Inc. operates the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, one of the New Year's Six Bowls selected to host the College Football Playoff. The Bowl has earned a reputation as one of the most competitive bowls in the country, with 53 percent of its games being decided by a touchdown or less. Peach Bowl, Inc. has disbursed $260.8 million in team payouts over its 52-year history. Peach Bowl, Inc. also leads all other bowl game organizations in charitable and scholarship contributions, having donated and committed more than $53.8 million to organizations in need since 2002. Peach Bowl, Inc. also runs the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game, the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Challenge charity golf tournament, manages The Dodd Trophy national coach of the year award and led the relocation and financial foundation of the College Football Hall of Fame to Atlanta. For more information, visit Chick-fil-APeachBowl.com or follow us on Twitter at @CFAPeachBowl and find us on Facebook at Facebook.com/CFAPeachBowl.
The Dodd Trophy, college football's most coveted coaching award, celebrates the head coach of a team who enjoys success on the gridiron, while also stressing the importance of scholarship, leadership and integrity – the three pillars of legendary coach Bobby Dodd's philosophy.
Edwards has led the Sun Devils to a 5-1 record through the first half of the season and the team enters the weekend ranked No. 17 in both the AP and Coaches Polls. ASU is tied for first at the top of the Pac-12 South standings and lays claim to two wins over ranked teams to its credit this season – tied for the most in the FBS and the only team with two road victories over ranked opponents.
Edwards and his staff have admirably incorporated a professional model of football, a byproduct of which are close games often not decided until late in the game. Four consecutive games this season have been decided by a touchdown or less, with ASU coming out on top in three of those.
ASU has played eight total games decided by four points or less in the Herm Edwards era, the most in the FBS since the start of last year.ASU's six wins in games of four points or less (6-2) is tied with Nevada for the best in college football the past two seasons.
The Sun Devils have produced three fourth-quarter come-from-behind victories this season, a total that leads the FBS. In two years under Herm Edwards, the Sun Devils have five victories when trailing at any point in the fourth quarter, tied with five other teams for most in the nation.
This 2019 Sun Devils feature a slew a fresh faces and a roster that has seen 29 true or redshirt freshmen take the field this season, including starting quarterback Jayden Daniels. The true frosh was the first evil true freshman quarterback to start the season for the Sun Devils and sits in the Top-30 nationally in a number of offensive and quarterback categories and advanced metrics. Daniels has been a multiple-time Pac-12 Freshman of the Week thus far and has earned recognition on The Athletic's Midseason Freshman All-America team.
Edwards has also helped see the emergence of 2018 All-American and one of the elite running backs in the country in Eno Benjamin over the past two seasons. The junior tailback has earned 224 yards after contact in Pac-12 games, the most in the Pac-12 and tied for 15th among FBS running backs since Week 4. His 106.7 yards per game in Pac-12 games only are currently tops in the league. Benjamin leads the Pac-12 with seven rushing touchdowns this season (13th nationally). His nine total touchdowns are also 9th nationally and lead the league. He leads the Pac-12 in yards from scrimmage (714), scrimmage yards per game (119.0), and touches (144) as well.
Defensively, the Sun Devils have thrived behind a tough scoring defense and the ability to limit the big play. ASU has held opponents to 30 or less points in 13 of 19 games in defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales' scheme, notable as it DID allow 30+ in 32 of 43 previous games dating back in a span from 2013-17. ASU is currently ranked 16th in the country in allowing just 17.7 points per game.
ASU has allowed just seven plays over 30 yards this season,a total tied for 16th nationally. The Sun Devils are one of just 10 teams nationally to not give up a 50-yard play on the year. ASU's run defense has been especially efficient, leading the FBS with only 10 plays allowed over 10 yards this season.
The midseason watch list was created through a selection process by the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, taking into consideration each program's current performance during the 2019 season, Academic Progress Rate (APR), and each coach's commitment to service and charity in the community.
A panel consisting of all previous winners, national media, a member of the Dodd family and a College Football Hall of Fame members will identify a list of finalists at the conclusion of the 2019 season. The winner of the 2019 Dodd Trophy will be announced in Atlanta during bowl week at this year's College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
###
About the Dodd Trophy
The Dodd Trophy was established in 1976 to honor the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division 1A) head football coach whose program represents the highest ideals on and off the field. The award honors the coach of a team which enjoys a successful football season, while also stressing the importance of academic excellence and character, as did Coach Dodd's teams during his 22 years as head football coach of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Coach Dodd remains one of college football's legendary figures, both as a coach and a player. Coach Dodd was a native of Galax, Virginia, and played his college ball at the University of Tennessee where his team had 27 wins, one loss and two ties during the three years he played. Coach Dodd was selected to the National College Football Hall of Fame both as a coach and as a player. Additional information about the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation can be found atwww.TheDoddTrophy.com. For news, updates and insider information, follow us on Twitter at @DoddTrophy or find us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/DoddTrophy.
About Peach Bowl, Inc.
Peach Bowl, Inc. operates the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, one of the New Year's Six Bowls selected to host the College Football Playoff. The Bowl has earned a reputation as one of the most competitive bowls in the country, with 53 percent of its games being decided by a touchdown or less. Peach Bowl, Inc. has disbursed $260.8 million in team payouts over its 52-year history. Peach Bowl, Inc. also leads all other bowl game organizations in charitable and scholarship contributions, having donated and committed more than $53.8 million to organizations in need since 2002. Peach Bowl, Inc. also runs the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game, the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Challenge charity golf tournament, manages The Dodd Trophy national coach of the year award and led the relocation and financial foundation of the College Football Hall of Fame to Atlanta. For more information, visit Chick-fil-APeachBowl.com or follow us on Twitter at @CFAPeachBowl and find us on Facebook at Facebook.com/CFAPeachBowl.