CHARLOTTE, N.C. – South Carolina State sophomore linebacker Justin Hughes was recently named to the 2013 CFPA Linebacker Award watch list by the College Football Performance Awards committee.
College Football Performance Awards, the largest awards organization in D-I college football, recently announced its watch list with 35 returning performers, vying for the top individual linebacker award in the Football Championship Subdivision.
"Congratulations to Justin Hughes on earning a spot on the 2013 CFPA Watch List," said CFPA Executive Director Brad Smith. "Hughes has extraordinary potential for success in 2013."
All CFPA recipients are selected exclusively based upon objective scientific rankings of the extent to which individual players increase the overall effectiveness of their teams. All players are eligible for awards at their respective positions; players are not preemptively eliminated from consideration.
More than 130 CFPA recipients have signed professional contracts, and twenty-one have been first-round NFL Draft selections. Last season, Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel earned the 2012 CFPA National Performer of the Year Trophy, while Harvard quarterback Colton Chapple earned the 2012 CFPA FCS National Performer of the Year Trophy. Multiple award presentations were broadcast live nationally on ESPN, CBS, Fox Sports, Big Ten Network, Pac 12 Network, as well as internationally on BYUtv.


2013 CFPA Linebacker Award Watch List
• Jarkevis Fields, Bethune-Cookman
• Evan Byers, Bucknell
• Nick Dzubnar, Cal Poly
• Wes Dothard, Chattanooga
• Carl Robinson, The Citadel
• Quinn Backus, Coastal Carolina
• Kris Kent, Colgate
• Jeff Williams, Delaware
• Dorian Bell, Duquesne
• Anthony Brown, Eastern Kentucky
• Ronnie Hamlin, Eastern Washington
• Stephon Robertson, James Madison
• Nigel Muhammad, Lehigh
• Nick Sigmon, Liberty
• Dan Sullivan, Monmouth
• Brock Coyle, Montana
• Jordan Tripp, Montana
• Ra'a Moeakiola, Montana State
• Carlton Littlejohn, North Dakota State
• Grant Olson, North Dakota State
• Lynden Trail, Norfolk State
• Jake Farley, Northern Iowa
• Caleb Taylor, Old Dominion
• Dan Davis, Pennsylvania
• Donelle Williams, Presbyterian
• Justin Sexton, Sacred Heart
• Justin Hughes, South Carolina State
• Tyler Starr, South Dakota
• T.J. Lally, South Dakota State
• Bryan Presume, Southern Illinois
• Anthony Balancier, Southern University
• Zak Browning, Southern Utah
• Monte Gaddis, Towson
• Ben Johnson, UT-Martin
• Alvin Scioneaux, Wofford