JACKSON, Miss. — Sophomore Grant Bizjack, graduate student Zabian Boutan, and senior Erik Contreras of the Millsaps College football team were named to the 2026 C Spire Conerly Trophy Preseason Watch List, which recognizes Mississippi's most outstanding college football players.

The 31st annual C Spire Conerly Trophy presentation will be held on December 1, 2026, at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame & Museum in Jackson, Miss.

Bizjack was named the 2025 Southern Athletic Association Rookie of the Year and earned Second Team All-SAA honors as one of the conference's top quarterbacks after helping lead the Majors to a 6-4 overall record to open his collegiate career last season.

The Trophy Club, Texas, native finished with 2,784 passing yards and 21 touchdowns after completing 161-of-247 pass attempts, establishing himself as one of the conference's top quarterbacks and got the opportunity to represent for the Majors as a 2025 C Spire Conerly Trophy nominee.

Boutan, who earned a spot on the 2025 All-SAA Defensive Team, finished second among the Majors with 54 total tackles and tied for second among his teammates with 29 solo tackles, while appearing in all 10 games during his senior campaign as a defensive lineman. He was recently named the wearer of number 11, honoring Juan Joseph.

Contreras, a 2025 All-SAA Honorable Mention selection, played a key role in the Majors' success last season, making an impact in both the rushing and passing games while starting in all 10 matchups against his opponents.

The Majors finished third in the conference with 1,867 rushing yards and fourth with 2,460 passing yards, with Contreras playing a key role as an offensive lineman and quarterback protector.

"One of the great stories of Mississippi college football each season is seeing who will emerge as a contender for the C Spire Conerly Trophy," said Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame & Museum Executive Director Andrea Patterson. "This watch list gives us an exciting group of players to follow as the season begins, and we look forward to watching these players compete, lead their teams, and make their case to be recognized as Mississippi's most outstanding college football player."

2026 C Spire Conerly Trophy Preseason Watch List

• Alcorn State – DL Eric Thomas, Jr., P/K Demetrion Duvall, QB Jaylon Tolbert

• Belhaven – DE Jimmy Byrd, LT Cam Williams, P Kyle Norris

• Delta State – WR Lawrence Armstrong, LB Tavian Moore, DL TJ Edwards

• Jackson State – QB Jared Lockhart, DB Kam Sallis, WR Nate Rembert

• Millsaps – QB Grant Bizjack, DL Zabian Boutan, C Erik Contreras

• Mississippi State – QB Kamario Taylor, CB Kelley Jones, WR Anthony Evans

• Mississippi Valley State – QB Josh Brown, RB Dezmond Ray, DL Christ Kore

• Southern Miss – WR Jaylen Himes, DL Kameron Cyprien, RB Robert Briggs

• Ole Miss – QB Trinidad Chambliss, DT Will Echoles, RB Kewan Lacy

To keep up to date with everything surrounding the Millsaps College football program this year follow the Majors on X and Instagram, like Millsaps Majors Athletics on Facebook and visit gomajors.com.

Founded in Jackson, Mississippi in 1890, Millsaps College is a national liberal arts college dedicated to academic excellence, open inquiry and free expression, the exploration of faith to inform vocation and the innovative shaping of the social, economic and cultural progress of our region. Consistently ranked as one of the best values in higher education, Millsaps has been praised by Colleges That Change Lives, The Princeton Review, Forbes Magazine, U.S. News & World Report, The John Templeton Foundation, and The Fiske Guide to Colleges.