July 20, 2012

2012 Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List

STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford redshirt senior outside linebacker Chase Thomas has been named to the Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List, the Walter Camp Foundation announced Friday.

Thomas is one of 50 players overall, and one of seven from the Pac-12 named to the preseason list. It is the fourth preseason award list to which he has been named for 2012, having previously been named a candidate for the Bednarik, Butkus and Nagurski Awards.

Thomas was a Sporting News All-America and All-Pac-12 First Team selection in 2011 following a sensational junior campaign. He led the Pac-12 in tackles for loss per game at 1.35 (17.5 total) and tied for second in sacks per game at 0.65 (8.5 total). He was also was credited with five forced fumbles (0.38 per game), which ranked second in the conference and tied for 10th nationally.

The watch list will be narrowed to 10 semi-finalists in mid-November. The 2012 Walter Camp Player of the Year recipient, which is voted on by the 124 NCAA Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors, will be announced live on ESPN's SportsCenter on Thursday, Dec. 6. The winner will then receive his trophy at the Foundation's annual national awards banquet on Jan. 12, 2013 at the Yale University Commons in New Haven.

Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck took home the award in 2011.

Thomas, along with senior running back Stepfan Taylor and Bradford M. Freeman Director of Football David Shaw, will travel to Burbank, Calif. Tuesday, July 24 for 2012 Pac-12 Football Media Day.

Stanford opens preseason camp Aug. 5. The Cardinal opens the 2012 campaign Friday, Aug. 31, facing the San Jose State Spartans at 7 p.m. on the Pac-12 Networks.