Cajuns offensive guard AJ Gillie has just picked up his first ever preseason award of his career after he was named to the 2022 preseason Outland Trophy award watch list. The Football Writers Association of America give this award every year in honor of college football’s best interior lineman.

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Gillie is just one of 17 guards to make this list. Gillie played 12 out of 14 games at left guard for the Cajuns’ last season. He was part of an offensive line unit that ranked fourth in the Sunbelt and tied 42nd nationally in sacks given up with 1.86. Gillie also helped pave the way for the potent rushing attack which averaged 187.1 yards rushing per game.

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Gillie and that line was named to their second straight Joe Moore Award semifinalist last season, and they look to make it three years in a row. This year will make 75 years since the start of awarding the nation’s best interior lineman with the Outland Trophy. Gillie will begin his campaign to claim this title on September 3, when Cajuns host Southeastern to begin the 2022 season.

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