Texas Tech senior outside linebacker Tyree Wilson collected a pair of honors this week as he was tabbed to the watch list for the Rotary Lombardi Award and was named a first team midseason All-American by The Athletic.

Wilson, one of the nation's leaders in sacks and tackles for loss this season, was one of 90 players nationally that were part of the midseason update for the Lombardi Award, which is presented annually to the nation's top offensive or defensive lineman (includes edge rushers). It is Wilson's first time in his career to be included on the watch list.

To qualify, nominees must be a down lineman, end to end, either on offense or defense, setting up no further than 10 yards to the left or right of the ball at the time of the snap. Nominees also include linebackers who set up no further than five yards deep from the line of scrimmage.

The Lombardi Award, which is named for NFL Hall of Fame coach Vince Lombardi, will announce its semifinalists Nov. 2. Four finalists will be unveiled Nov. 17 leading into the announcement of the 2022 award winner Dec. 7.

The Athletic, meanwhile, listed Wilson as one of its four selections to its midseason All-America first team where he was joined by Felix Anudike-Uzomah (Kansas State), Mazi Smith (Michigan) and Tuli Tuipulotu (USC). He was also tabbed an honorable mention selection to the midseason All-America list compiled by Pro Football Focus.

It is a fitting reward for the type of first half of the season for Wilson, who enters Saturday's Homecoming tilt with West Virginia ranked fourth in the FBS for sacks per game (1.0) and eighth for tackles for loss per contest (1.5). He is one of only four players nationally to appear in the top 10 for both categories, joining Eastern Michigan's Jose Ramirez, Ohio State's Mike Hall Jr. and Tuipulotu.

Wilson's 6.0 sacks overall are tied for seventh in the FBS and second in the Big 12 alongside Kansas' Lonnie Phelps. Anudike-Uzomah has a narrow lead in the conference race with 6.5 sacks of his own heading into Kansas State's road trip this weekend to TCU. Tuipulotu and Ramirez share the FBS lead with 7.0 sacks this season.

Wilson's has easily been among the most active pass rushers this season with 31 total pressures this season according to Pro Football Focus, which only trails Illinois' Jer'Zhan Newton, who has played in one more game than Wilson thus far. He has at least shared a sack in all but one game this season as he recorded two each in Texas Tech's road trips at No. 16 N.C. State and No. 25 Kansas State.

The strong start has placed Wilson in contention to join several of Texas Tech's all-time greats during the back half of the season as he needs 1.5 sacks to match Pete Robertson (2011-14) for 10th all-time on the school career chart. Wilson's 6.0 sacks this season match Robertson (2014) and Brian Duncan (2010) for the most by a Red Raider through six games since the start of the 2000 season.

In addition to his ability to reach the quarterback, Wilson has increased his productivity in the run game with 37 tackles through six games, one shy of his total from the entire 2021 campaign. He ranked 15th currently in the Big 12 for tackles per game, averaging 6.2 over the first half of the season.

Wilson will get another opportunity to add to those numbers Saturday when Texas Tech hosts West Virginia at Jones AT&T Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m. with coverage provided on FOX Sports 1 and the Texas Tech Sports Network.