KALAMAZOO, Mich. – For the first time in their careers, Western Michigan redshirt senior offensive linemen Mike Caliendo and Jaylon Moore have been named to the Outland Trophy Preseason Watch List by the Football Writers Association of America. The award honors the nation's top interior lineman.
 
Western Michigan joins Air Force, Appalachian State, BYU and West Virginia as the schools with two or more representatives on the Outland's preseason list. The Broncos have had at least one Outland preseason list selection every year since 2015 and have had at least two in three of the past four seasons.
 
A preseason first team All-Mid-American Conference honoree by Phil Steele and second team by Athlon Sports, Caliendo enters as Western Michigan's returning starter at left guard. He has played in 38 career games with 36 starts, the last 33 at left guard. A 6-foot-4, 300-pound product of Brookfield, Wis., he earned second team All-MAC accolades in 2019. Caliendo was also a first team CoSIDA Academic All-District 5 honoree in 2019. He is a three-time Academic All-MAC (2017-18-19) selection and three-time MAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete (2017-18-19).
 
Moore is WMU's returning starter at left tackle and a preseason first team all-league pick by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele. He has played in 31 career games with 26 starts, all consecutively at left tackle. Moore, a 6-foot-5, 315-pound native of Detroit, finished the 2019 season by earning second team All-MAC honors.
 

Let's give it up for the big men doing work in the trenches!

Buffalo's @Alwaysimprovin1, Miami's @freestylefalcon, Toledo's @Baharris28 and WMU teammates @Jay_Moore76 & @mikecaliendo61 have just been named to the @outlandtrophy watch list! #MACtion pic.twitter.com/Dr0UJ1FiS7

— #MACtion (@MACSports) July 21, 2020

 
The two helped the Broncos finish with top-three MAC rankings in total offensive yards per game (445.7; 2nd), third down conversion percentage (.453; 2nd), fewest fumbles lost (6; 2nd), fewest turnovers lost (14; 2nd) and points per game (33.1; 3rd) last fall. The left-side duo provided time and space for WMU to finish as the only MAC squad to compile 2,600 or more rushing yards and 3,000 or more passing yards during the 2019 campaign. The two also guided the offensive line to stand third in the conference and 18th nationally in fewest sacks allowed per game (1.38) and fourth in the MAC in fewest tackles for loss yielded per contest (5.08).
 
Players may be added or removed from the Outland Trophy Preseason Watch List during the season. The recipient of the 75th Outland Trophy will be announced in early December. The official presentation to the winner will be made in Omaha, Neb., at the Outland Trophy Awards Dinner sponsored by Werner Enterprises and produced by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee, scheduled for January 13, 2021.
 
Western Michigan Players on 2020 NCFAA Watch Lists
Biletnikoff Award: Skyy Moore
Butkus Award: Treshaun Hayward
Nagurski Trophy: Treshaun Hayward
Outland Trophy: Mike Caliendo & Jaylon Moore
 
#LetsRide