University of South Alabama Athletics

WICHITA, Kan. ? University of South Alabama junior catcher Joel Collins was honored along with 26 other NCAA Division I catchers, as the Johnny Bench Award, Delivered by AT&T Watch List was announced by the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission Thursday afternoon.

The 2007 Johnny Bench Watch List comprises the top 27 catchers in NCAA Div. I. This year’s selections represent 17 different conferences. Collins is the only catcher selected from the Sun Belt Conference.

“It’s a great honor to be selected for such a major award,” said Collins. “It means a lot knowing that the hard work is paying off, but the individual awards are always secondary to our team’s success.”

The watch list will be narrowed down to ten semi-finalists, whom will be announced May 17, 2007. A comprehensive biography will be created on each of the semi-finalists and sent to the national voting panel at the end of May for a vote to determine the three finalists. The finalists will be announced May 30, 2007 prior to the NCAA Regionals and Major League Baseball Draft.

A final vote among the national committee will occur during the College World Series. All finalists will be brought to Wichita and the winner will be announced at the 10^th Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet on June 27, 2007.

Collins is batting .308 thus far this season and has smashed four home runs. He has driven in 18 runners and is a perfect 4-4 stealing bases. The Jag backstop has started all 19 games this season for USA. He has thrown out 8-17 runners attempting to steal.

2007 Coleman Company - Johnny Bench Award delivered by AT&T

Watch List