Rotary Lombardi watch list unveiled

Award given to the nation’s top college lineman or linebacker

HOUSTON – The Rotary Club of Houston on Monday announced the 43rd Annual Rotary Lombardi Award watch list. The Rotary Lombardi Award is given to the nation’s top college lineman or linebacker each year.

Eligibility for the Rotary Lombardi Award is limited to:

• Offensive or defensive end-to-end down linemen who set up no farther than 10 yards to the left or right of the ball
• Linebackers who set up no farther than five yards deep from the line of scrimmage.

All candidates must be eligible to play college sports under the rules and regulations of the NCAA.

The candidates earned a place on the watch list by:

• Earning All-American honors last season
• Being named last season to their respective all-conference first team as determined by the conference’s head coaches
• Being projected to be an All-American or first team all-conference player for the coming season
• 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. The 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 is a reference tool for the Selection Committee. It will be periodically revised until the first round of voting is completed. The first round of voting determines the 25 quarterfinalists for 2012. The second round of voting will determine the seven semi-finalists or “Seven Blocks of Granite.” The third round of voting will determine the four finalists from the “Seven Blocks of Granite”. The fourth and final round of voting will determine the winner of The 43rd Rotary Lombardi Award which will be announced Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012 at The Hobby Center in Houston, Texas.

Last year’s 2011 Rotary Lombardi Award winner, Luke Kuechly, was drafted by the Carolina Panthers with the ninth overall pick of the 2012 NFL Draft.