Demond Washington

AUBURN, Ala. - Auburn seniors Josh Bynes, Craig Stevens and Demond Washington were all named Tuesday to watch lists for major college football trophies. Bynes and Stevens were named to the Butkus Award watch list, while Washington was named to the Paul Hornung Award watch list.

The Butkus Award is presented annually to the nation's best linebacker, while the Paul Hornung Award is given annually to the most versatile player in major college football.

Bynes led Auburn in tackles and ranked sixth in the SEC last year, totaling 104 stops on the season (61 solo, 43 assists). He had six tackles for loss and recovered two fumbles while also breaking up seven passes and intercepting another.

Bynes enters his senior season with 167 career tackles and with a streak of 21 consecutive starts. He has four career double-digit tackle games, including back-to-back games with 10 tackles each against Alabama and Northwestern to close the 2009 season.

Stevens was named Auburn's Co-Defensive Most Valuable Player in 2009 after finishing with 95 tackles (55 solo, 40 assists), including eight tackles for loss and 2.5 quarterback sacks. He was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week after totaling 11 tackles and returning an interception for a touchdown to seal Auburn's 41-30 victory over West Virginia. It was one of three double-digit tackles games for Stevens during the 2009 season.

Stevens, who has started 26 consecutive games dating back to the 2007 season, has 190 tackles during his career (109 solo, 81 assists), including 9.5 tackles for 40 yard in losses. He has collected at least six tackles in a game 16 times during his career.

Washington was named to the Paul Hornung Award watch list after setting an Auburn record for kickoff return average in 2009, while also playing both cornerback and safety for the Auburn defense and returning punts.

Washington led the SEC and ranked sixth nationally in kickoff return average in 2009, averaging a school-record 31.1 yards per return. He set Auburn single-game records with 229 total return yards and 202 kickoff return yards in a game at Georgia, including a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. His 40.4-yard average on kickoff returns against the Bulldogs was the second-best mark in SEC history with a minimum of four returns.

Defensively, Washington started the season at cornerback for the Tigers, before starting the final four games of the season at safety. He finished the season with 36 tackles (22 solo, 14 assists), including one quarterback sack, and had four pass break-ups.