University of Minnesota Duluth senior Andrew Brees is among 41 placekickers nationwide who have made the Watch List for the 2015 Fred Mitchell Award for excellence on the football field and in the community. This marks the second consecutive year the West Allis, Wis., native has been so honored. 

Among the 41 nominees are 12 from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), 11 from NCAA Division II, 12 from the NCAA Division III, five from NAIA schools and one from National Junior College Athletic Association members. The group consists of 16 seniors, 18 juniors and seven sophomores.

"These placekickers are impressive on and off the football field representing their schools, their football teams, their conferences, their communities, their families and themselves," said Fred Mitchell Award Selection Committee Chairman Chris Kearney. "We look forward to following their accomplishments during the next several months."

A blue-ribbon Selection Committee (listed at www.fredmitchellaward.com) evaluates placekickers that are nominated by their schools. There are 13 former NFL or college placekickers such as Nick Lowery, Kevin Butler and Paul Hornung on the Selection Committee as well as Pro Football Hall of Famers Gale Sayers and Marv Levy. 

Brees, a two-time All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference North Division first team pick (2014 and 2012), will embark on his fourth year as UMD's primary placekicker this fall and is also expected to handle the team's punting duties as well. He placed third among 2014 Bulldogs in scoring with 83 points, connecting on 11 of 17 field goals (including a career-high 49-yarder against Northern State University on Oct. 18) and 46 of 50  extra point kicks.  Earlier this month, Brees was named a USA College Football Division II Preseason All-Americans the second time in as many years. Away from the field, Brees has volunteered at Courage Center Duluth and with the United Way of Greater Milwaukee (this summer) in addition to serving at the annual Duluth Lions Club Pancake Day and the ALS Blizzard Tour.

Now in its seventh year of existence, the Fred Mitchell Award --  along with a tuition scholarship -- will be presented to the 2015 winner at the annual National Football Foundation Chicago Metro Chapter Awards Ceremony in February. Tom Obarski of Concordia University-St. Paul (UMD's NSIC rival), claimed the Fred Mitchell award one year ago.