Preseason awards for Beavs

A QUARTET of Beavers -- Jordan Poyer, Scott Crichton, Michael Doctor and Markus Wheaton -- are receiving preseason accolades in recently released awards lists and magazine rankings.

Senior cornerback Jordan Poyer was listed by The College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) as one of the nation’s top punt returners in June and this week announced him as a candidate for the top defensive back.

Poyer is also on the Lott Trophy watchlist and has also been selected by Phil Steele as a fourth team All-American, and the seventh-best cornerback and 17th-best punt returner in the country. Blue Ribbon Yearbook also placed Poyer on its Pac-12 first team roster.

The CFPA placed sophomore defensive end Scott Crichton to its top defensive linemen list. He also is a member of Steele’s preseason Pac-10 second team.

Senior wide receiver Markus Wheaton and junior linebacker Michael Doctor were selected to Steele’s preseason lists.

Wheaton is rated the 15th best receiver in the country, entering the season with 1,750 career receiving yards on 136 receptions (ninth in OSU history). Doctor is rated the 46th best outside linebacker and has 89 career tackles.

Poyer was a Pac-12 Conference Second Team selection last season on defense after making 57 tackles, 12 pass deflections and four interceptions. In addition, he averaged 14.1 yards per punt return last year and set a Reser Stadium record with an 85-yard return for a touchdown against UCLA. He also averaged 22.7 yards on 30 kickoff returns.

Crichton, a sophomore, earned All-American freshman honors last season after making 74 tackles and forcing an OSU record six fumbles.

The Beavers open the 2012 season Sept. 1 vs. Nicholls State at Reser Stadium, before Big Ten Conference foe Wisconsin visits Sept. 8.