Western Kentucky quarterback Mike White capped 2017 Watch List week as one of 40 initial Walter Camp Player of the Year candidates, the namesake’s foundation announced Friday morning. It is White’s seventh individual honor leading into Hilltopper fall camp, which starts July 31.

The WKU senior is one of 15 quarterbacks and only one of eight from the Group of Five, as the 40 watch list members were chosen regardless of position or conference. In all, 30 schools and 10 conferences are represented on the list, including 2016 Walter Camp Player of the Year Lamar Jackson of Louisville.

The watch list will be narrowed to 10 semifinalists in mid-November, then the 2017 Walter Camp Player of the Year recipient (voted on by the 130 FBS head coaches and sports information directors) will be announced Dec. 7. There are also First and Second Team All-Americans announced by the Walter Camp Football Foundation annually.

Walter Camp, “The Father of American football,” first selected an All-America team in 1889. Camp, a former Yale University athlete and football coach, is also credited with developing play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to 11 men per side. The Walter Camp Football Foundation was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team.

White, linebacker Joel Iyiegbuniwe and head coach Mike Sanford returned Thursday evening from Conference USA Media Days in Irving, Texas, where the trio represented the Hilltoppers among the 13 other league programs.

White’s Preseason Recognition

Conference USA Preseason Offensive POY

Maxwell Award Watch List (Top player)

Wuerffel Trophy Watch List (Community service)

Davey O’Brien Award Watch List (Quarterback)

Johnny Unitas Award Watch List (Quarterback)

Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List (Top player)