NCAA football notes: UW’s Browning Walter Camp Award finalist

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, November 30, 2016

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Quarterbacks Lamar Jackson from Louisville, Deshaun Watson from Clemson and Jake Browning from Washington are among the five finalists for the Walter Camp player of the year award.

They’re joined by defensive stars Jonathan Allen of Alabama and Jabriill Peppers of Michigan.

Jackson is the front-runner for the Heisman Trophy and has accounted for 51 touchdowns this season.

Watson and Browning will lead their teams into conference championship games this weekend, hoping to earn spots in the College Football Playoff.

Allen is the anchor of a defensive line that’s helped the top-ranked Tide allow the fewest points and yards in the country.

Peppers is a versatile linebacker who also returns punts. No. 5 Michigan is right behind Alabama in scoring and total defense.

The Walter Camp winner will be announced Dec. 8.

Taylor to leave Notre Dame

Malik Zaire’s days as a Notre Dame football player are over.

The school granted the senior quarterback his release Wednesday, according to an ESPN report.

For whom the soon-to-be graduate transfer will suit up next remains to be seen. Florida, Pittsburgh and Wisconsin are among the potential destinations, according multiple reports.

Michigan State had been on that list but Notre Dame reportedly blocked him from transferring there, and to any other school on the Irish’s 2017 schedule except for North Carolina. The Irish and the Spartans play next season.

Zaire is expected to graduate in December and will immediately be eligible to play for his next school. He started three games for the Irish before breaking his right ankle during the second game of the 2015 season at Virginia.

Foreman to NFL Draft

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas running back D’Onta Foreman says he will leave the Longhorns to enter the NFL draft after rushing for 2,028 yards this season as a junior.

Foreman announced his decision Wednesday. His rushing total in 11 games was the second-best in school history, behind only Ricky Williams in 1998 when he won the Heisman Trophy. Foreman is a finalist for the Doak Walker Award given to the nation’s top running back.

Foreman also set a school record with 13 consecutive 100-yard games dating to the 2015 season. His career-best was a 341-yard effort against Texas Tech.