This award was started as a tongue-in-cheek tribute to players that fans push to the moon before they play a snap, or after one great performance in the preseason. But it also puts the focus on some of the unheralded players who fans hype up and have a fighter’s chance at making Washington’s roster. Colt Brennan was a great college player that lit up the preseason, but injuries and other issues saw him flame out in the NFL early. RIP Colt and thanks for the inspiration.
(*Editor’s note: The text from
the below description is word-for-word from the original fanpost that started this award in 2013)
Every season, a new class of draft picks and undrafted free agents are signed during the preseason. The majority of these players will never be on the roster for a regular season game, but the few diamond in the rough late round/UDFA players who do bring hope to players and fans. That racetrack betting slip that you find on the floor that someone didn’t scout properly.
Redskins fans are very familiar with the hype that comes with the offseason, especially over the last two decades of dreary seasons. Between the overpriced free agent signings, and the overhyped preseason performances by rookies, we were the perennial offseason champions. Names like Marko Mitchell, Marcus Mason, Brandon Banks, and everyone’s favorite Colt Brennan became legendary in training camp and preseason, only to be relegated to the practice squad or the bowels of the depth chart, never to be heard from again. Last year’s preseason hero was Alfred Morris who rose up due to injury and necessity after being deemed a practice squad candidate by many, and we all know how that turned out.
Hype is a very real, and very exciting part of football in the preseason. We all read the daily training camp reports and get excited at the prospect of a late round pass rusher getting sack after sack on 3rd string offensive lineman, or a wide receiver catching everything thrown his way, or a running back who’s not injured.
The Mason/Brennan award has been given out unofficially by the fans for years to each preseason’s most hyped players, but now we’re going to make it official, and bring it to a vote. This week’s vote will cover the draft and training camp. Place your vote for who you feel has been the most hyped player up to this point, whether the hype is deserved or not. After each preseason game a new vote will be taken to see how the hype changes.
The Rules:
1. Player must have been drafted late or signed by the Redskins as an undrafted free agent. Players that have only been on other teams practice squads that are signed by the team are also eligible.
2. A player that has been on the team for several years is still eligible if most of that time has been spent on the practice squad, inactive, or with very limited productivity/time
The Keenan “the Barbarian” Robinson Amendment: only 6th round draft picks or later for their first two years in the league
The Washington Commanders’ second preseason game was a primetime game on Monday Night Football that could project a lesser-known player into the national consciousness. Bill Merritt got his time to shine and had some a big touchdown run to get the fantasy football world talking. With Brian Robinson’s impending departure, Bill’s got a good chance to go from preseason hype champion to starting RB for the Commanders. Chris Rodriguez Jr. also got highlighted in a game that only saw Washington’s QBs attempt 8 passes.
That was bad news for last week’s WR duo Tay Martin and Braylon Sanders that weren’t targeted once during the game. The leader off the hyped preseason receivers has been Ja’Corey Brooks who also wasn’t targeted this week. His hype continues to ride him to another nomination as he continues to shine in practice. Colson Yankoff had the catch of the night…on the bench.
On defense we have LB Ale Kaho who has quietly been getting some hype at training camp, and then he went out on Monday Night Football and led the team in tackles(7). Kain “Bane” Medrano? Someone’s trying to make that a thing, and he’s averaging 3 tackles per game in the preseason.
A pair of safeties rounds out this week’s nominees. Tyler Owens continues to make a few plays, but can he get a chance on the defense in his second year? Another new addition to the list is former Jackson State DB Robert McDaniel. He’s been very noticeable in the 2nd half of both preseason games, and looks like a player that might land on the practice squad.
The Nominees:
Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt, RB – 7th round (2025) – Jacory Croskey-Merritt, aka Bill, has been a fan favorite since getting drafted, and he got his national spotlight moment on Monday night. Bill got his first NFL touchdown on a 27-yard TD and Jayden Daniels made sure to retrieve that ball for the rook.
Ja’Corey Brooks, WR – UDFA (2025) – Ja’Corey was a hype monster at the start of camp, and he’s right back after his performance in his first NFL preseason game. He was 5/5 for 59 yards, leading all receivers in yards and receptions.
Colson Yankoff, TE – UDFA (2024) – Yankoff wasn’t nominated last week, but when you’re a special teams demon and one-handed catch a Joe Burrow pass… You made the list!
Kain Medrano, LB – 6th round (2025) – Medrano added three more tackles to his preseason total. And he has a nickname now…
Ale Kaho, LB – UDFA (2025) – Kaho has been getting a little bit of hype in camp, but Monday night’s game got him nominated for the first time. He led the team in combined tackles(7) and “just wants to hit people”.
Tyler Owens, S – UDFA (2024) – Tyler Owens is hoping to get his first snap on defense this year, and he had two tackles against the Bengals. Did he do enough to be more than a special teamer?
Robert McDaniel, S – UDFA (2024) –
