Troy University Athletics
Photo by: Kevin Glackmeyer
Massaquoi Named to Rotary Lombardi Watch List
7/12/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
ROTARY LOMBARDI AWARD WATCH LIST
The Rotary Lombardi Award Committee has released the Official Watch List for the 2011 Rotary Lombardi Award. This is the 42nd year that the Rotary Lombardi Award has named the nation's college lineman of the year.
Eligibility for the Rotary Lombardi Award is limited to down linemen, end-to-end, either on offense of defense, who set up no farther than 10 yards to the left or right of the ball, and linebackers who set up no farther than five yards deep from the line of scrimmage. All candidates also must be eligible to play college sports under the rules and regulations of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
Troy junior defensive end Jonathan Massaquoi was one of 126 players named to the watch list. He and Arkansas State linebacker Demario Davis were the only players from the Sun Belt Conference named to the list.
Massaquoi posted 76 total tackles in 2010 including a team-leading 20.5 tackles for losses of 111 yards. He also recorded 13.5 sacks for 97 yards and recovered three fumbles. He ranks third among all returning players in TFL and second in sacks.
Massaquoi was also named to the Bronko Nagurski and Chuck Bednarik Award Watch lists and was tabbed with junior linebacker Kanorris Davis on the inaugural Pony Express Award Watch List.
The candidates earned a place on the Official Watch List by earning All-American honors last season, by being named to their respective all-conference first team last season as selected by the conference's head coaches, by being projected to be an All-American or first team all-conference player for the coming season, or by nomination approved by the nominations committee.
While the Watch List highlights those players who have already received national recognition, any Division IA player who meets the above requirements is eligible for consideration from the Rotary Lombardi Award Selection Committee. This committee is comprised of more than 500 members, including all past winners and finalists, all Division IA head coaches, and a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.
The Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List, intended as a reference tool for the Selection Committee, will be periodically updated and revised up to the first round of voting to determine the 12 Semifinalists for 2010.
Last year's Rotary Lombardi Award winner, Nick Fairley (Auburn), was drafted by the Detroit Lions and Finalist Adrian Clayborn (Iowa) was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, both in the first round of the National Football League draft.
The 42nd Rotary Lombardi Award will be held on December 6-7, 2011 at Reliant Center, Houston, Texas. For more information on the two-day schedule of events and ticket opportunities, please visit www.rotarylombardiaward.org.
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