LOGAN, Utah – Utah State quarterback
Jordan Love and linebacker
David Woodward were both selected by the Touchdown Club of Columbus as Players to Watch heading into the 2019 season, it was announced Wednesday.
Love is one of eight quarterbacks named to the 2019 Watch List, while Woodward is one four linebackers and one of just seven defensive players recognized.
Love finished his sophomore campaign by completing 21-of-43 passes for 359 yards and four touchdowns in Utah State's 52-13 win against North Texas in the New Mexico Bowl. Love, who was named the Offensive Most Valuable Player of the bowl game, also scored a rushing touchdown against the Mean Green.
The product of Liberty High School in Bakersfield, Calif., set USU bowl games records with his 359 passing yards and four touchdowns, along with his 362 yards of total offense.
Love, who earned second-team all-Mountain West honors in 2018, set single-season school records with his 32 touchdown passes and 3,567 passing yards, while his 267 completions and 3,630 yards of total offense both rank second all-time at Utah State for a single-season. He also set a USU record by being named the MW Offensive Player of the Week five times over the course of the year.
Nationally, Love concluded the 2018 season ranking eighth with his 32 touchdown passes, 10th in points responsible for per game (18.0) and 13th in passing yards (274.4 yards per game).
Woodward finished his sophomore season by recording 10 tackles and one interception against North Texas in the New Mexico Bowl for his eighth double-digit tackle outing of the year. For the season, Woodward led the team with 134 tackles and ranked 11th nationally with his 11.2 tackles per game average. The native of Olympia High School in Olympia, Wash., also ranked second on the team in both sacks (5.0) and tackles for loss (12.5), while adding two forced fumbles and two interceptions.
As a sophomore, Woodward was named a first-team All-American by Pro Football Focus and a third-team All-American by The Associated Press.
Overall, the 2019 Touchdown Club of Columbus Watch List includes 22 offensive skill position players and seven defensive players.
The seven other quarterbacks joining Love on the watch list include Sam Ehlinger (Texas), Justin Herbert (Oregon), Kelvin Hopkins, Jr. (Army), D'Eriq King (Houston), Kellen Mond (Texas A&M), Brady White (Memphis) and Zach Wilson (BYU).
Joining Woodward as other players to watch on defense includes linebackers Markus Bailey (Purdue), Kenneth Murray (Oklahoma) and Curtis Weaver (Boise State), plus defensive backs/safeties Andre Cisco (Syracuse), Richie Grant (UCF) and Kenny Robinson (West Virginia).
Running backs on the watch list include Eno Benjamin (Arizona State), Isaiah Bowser (Northwestern), J.K. Dobbins (Ohio State), Travis Etienne (Clemson), Mohamed Ibrahim (Minnesota), Jermer Jefferson (Oregon State), Greg McCrae (UCF), Ronnie Rivers (Fresno State) and Michael Warren (Cincinnati).
Wide receivers mentioned include Damonte Coxie (Memphis), Jerry Jeudy (Alabama), Jacobi Meyers (North Carolina State), James Proche (SMU), Laviska Shenault, Jr. (Colorado) and Tylan Wallace (Oklahoma State).
This exclusive group has been selected as 2019 Players to Watch and will be introduced during the 64th Touchdown Club of Columbus Awards on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019, at Express Live! in downtown Columbus.
Fans can follow the Aggie football program at twitter.com/USUFootball or on Facebook at Utah State Football, as well as on Instagram at instagram.com/USUFootball. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program at twitter.com/USUAthletics or on Facebook at Utah State University Athletics.
