Rimington Trophy Watch List: Ranking the Top 10 Candidates

As we inch closer to the college football season kicking off, the watch lists for each prestigious award is being released. Today the list for the Rimington Trophy was announced, which is the award that is given to the best center in college football.

The Rimington Trophy has been awarded since 2000, and is named after former Nebraska great Dave Rimington.

There are many players that will make a case for this award, but only a few who will truly have a chance of walking away with the hardware.

Here are the top 10 candidates for the Rimington Trophy in 2012.

10. Joe Madsen, West Virginia

Joe Madsen will enter yet another season as the starting center for West Virginia. He is considered the best lineman on a team that allowed 26 sacks a season ago.

He does a good job of leading this football team and will have to take his game to another level, as the Mountaineers enter the Big 12. 

9. Will Matte, Indiana

Will Matte started every game of his career before getting injured in the middle of the season. He will help anchor a very young offensive line that struggled to find a replacement for his talent and leadership when he missed time last season.

Matte is a fifth-year senior, who is arguably the best at his position in the entire conference. 

8. Matt Stankiewitch, Penn State

Penn State only returns one starter on the offensive line, which is Matt Stankiewitch. He will have to continue to be the leader of this unit and help mentor this team that lost so many key pieces a season ago.

He is a fifth-year senior, who is terrific at opening up holes in the running game, but the inexperience around him will likely not help his case.

7. Mario Benavides, Louisville

Mario Benavides has dealt with several injuries throughout his career, but has still managed to start a total of 34 games at center for the Cardinals.

He is the leader of this offensive line and will be a big part of Louisville's success if it is going to take that next step in the Big East.

6. Graham Pocic, Illinois

Graham Pocic is one of the bigger players on this list at 6'7", 305 pounds. He has been one of the more consistent players on this Illinois team, starting every game during the last two seasons.

He is a leader on and off the field, and uses his long wingspan to keep defenders in front of him. 

5. Khaled Holmes, USC

Khaled Holmes started his career at right guard, but ended up switching to the center position last season. He made an effortless transition and was named to the 2011 All-Pac-12 second team.

He is very athletic at 6'4", 305 pounds and gets off the ball in a hurry. 

4. Travis Swanson, Arkansas

Travis Swanson has been the starter for the Razorbacks in all of his 26 games throughout his career. He is considered one of the best centers in the country and a future NFL player.

Swanson has put on some weight, as he is now over 300 pounds, but still has terrific footwork and athleticism to block the best of defensive linemen.

3. Ben Habern, Oklahoma

Ben Habern has been an impact player since he stepped on campus back in 2008. He suffered a wrist injury last season, which forced him to miss playing time, but he still finished the year with 39 knockdowns on only 391 snaps. 

Hardern is recovering from offseason neck surgery, but should make a speedy recovery and return to full strength by the season kicks off.

2. Dalton Freeman, Clemson

Dalton Freeman is a first-team All-ACC selection and a two-time Academic All-ACC selection. He only allowed two sacks last season and was responsible for 58 knockdown blocks in 811 snaps as the starting center.

He is a smart and tough player, who will help protect one of the more explosive offenses in the country.

1. Barrett Jones, Alabama

Barrett Jones is arguably the best lineman in all of college football who has dominated every position he has played at. He started his career at right guard, switched to left tackle and now the coaching staff would like to switch him to the center position. 

If this move holds up, Jones is without question the front-runner for this award. He won the Outland Trophy last season and has been a semifinalist for the Lombardi Award.