Toledo, Ohio – Toledo senior offensive lineman Elijah Nkansah (Mason, Ohio) was named to the official watch list for the Outland Trophy today. The Outland Trophy is given annually to the nation's top interior lineman. Nkansah is one of only six players from the Mid-American Conference to make the watch list.

Nkansah, a 6-6, 315-pound left tackle, is the leader of an offensive line that that allowed just 14 sacks in 2016, which ranked 11th in the country and third in the MAC. Toledo's offense led the MAC in total offense (517.8) and passing offense (322.8) last season, and ranked seventh in nation in total offense and 10th in passing offense.

The Outland Trophy list will be trimmed to six or seven semifinalists on Wednesday, Nov. 15. Six days later, three Outland Trophy finalists will be named by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA). The winner of the 72nd Outland Trophy – named after the late John Outland, an All-America lineman at Penn at the turn of the 20th century – will be announced on live on ESPN on The Home Depot College Football Awards on Thursday, Dec. 7 in Atlanta. The Outland Trophy presentation banquet, sponsored by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee, will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2018, in Omaha, Neb.

The Rockets open their season at home vs. Elon on Thursday, Aug. 31 at 7:00 p.m. For ticket information, go online or call 419-530-GOLD (4653).