Will Hernandez Named to Piesman Watch List

SB Nation announced All-American Will Hernandez as one of 44 linemen on The Piesman Watch List on Friday.

Hernandez has racked up the preseason honors leading up to UTEP's season opener. The left guard was announced to the 2017 Outland Trophy Watch List, 2017 Preseason AP All-American and was recognized by Athlon Sports as a Preseason All-Conference USA first team and Preseason All-America third team. Dave Campbell's Texas Football picked Hernandez to the Preseason All-Texas team, while Phil Steel's College Football Preview appointed him to the Preseason All-C-USA first team and as a Preseason All-American. Hernandez also earned a spot on the 2017 Preseason C-USA Football team.

Last season, Hernandez played on a dominant offensive line that only allowed 1.3 sacks per game. UTEP running back Aaron Jones also set the single-season school record with 1,773 yards. Hernandez started all 12 contests on his way to the 2016 AP and FOX Sports' All-America teams.

Hernandez is the only C-USA lineman on the Piesman Watch List.

This year, three finalists will be invited to an awards ceremony scheduled to take place on Friday, Dec. 8, in New York City. Piesman voters include media members from outlets like ESPN, Bleacher Report, USA Today, CBS, the AP, Sports Illustrated and The Ringer. And of course, college football fans have a voice too, via an online ballot made available later in the season.

The Piesman Trophy was first awarded in 2015, to Ashton Henderson from Southeastern Louisiana, before Pitt’s O’Neill took home his own “Slice of Heaven” in December, 2016.