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Five C-USA Players on Lombardi Watch List
From C-USA Media Relations
CHICAGO — The Executive Committee of the 2002 Rotary Lombardi Award has
released its Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List comprised of 49 preliminary
candidates for the 33rd Rotary Lombardi Award. Conference USA had five
players named to the watch list for this year's award. The 2002 award winner
will be announced in December.
The Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List is comprised of returning Division I
college football players who meet the basic position requirements for the
Award and who have earned either All American or first-team All Conference
recognition in a previous season. All-Conference designations were limited
to those voted upon by the coaches of each conference. Eligibility for the
Rotary Lombardi Award is limited to down linemen and those defenders who
line up within five yards of the football.
Conference USA's representatives on the list are East Carolina offensive
lineman BRIAN RIMPF, Southern Miss linebacker ROD DAVIS, Cincinnati
defensive end ANTWAN PEEK, and a pair of Louisville standouts, tight end
RONNIE GHENT and defensive end DEWAYNE WHITE. All five players were
first-team All-Conference USA selections last season.
Rimpf helped cleared the way last season for East Carolina's
record-setting running back Leonard Henry. The junior earned All-Conference
accolades last fall after being named to the league's All-Freshman team the
previous campaign. Rimpf started every 2001 game at left tackle and graded
out at 80 percent.
Davis, the leader of the tradionally-strong Golden Eagle defense, posted
a team-high 92 tackles and 10 sacks, to go along with four interceptions and
two fumble recoveries.
Peek is coming off a record-setting junior campaign in which led all UC
lineman with 60 tackles while setting school standards for quarterback sacks
in a game (4 vs. Louisiana-Monroe), season (12.5) and career (21).
Ghent was named to the watch list for the second year in a row. A
two-time Conference USA first team all-conference selection, he ranked third
on the squad with 34 catches and 330 yards and was second on the squad with
five touchdowns despite missing nearly three games with a knee injury.
White was named Conference USA's Defensive Player of the Year last season
after leading the league (and finishing second in the nation) with 15 sacks.
He set a new school record for tackles for losses in a season with 23. In 23
career games, White has 27 sacks and 41 TFL's.
While the Watch Lists highlights players who have already received
national recognition, any Division I player who meets the position
requirements is eligible for consideration from the Rotary Lombardi
Selection Committee, which is comprised of nearly 300 members, including all
Division I head coaches, former winners, sportswriters and broadcasters. The
Rotary Lombardi Watch List, intended as a reference tool for the Selection
Committee, will be periodically updated and revised through the conclusion
of the voting to determine the 12 Semifinalists for 2002.
"This is the second year for our watch list. The response to our first
watch list last year from the press and our voters was overwhelmingly
positive. We are looking forward to the selection of four truly outstanding
players as our 2002 finalists," said Gerry Parker, 2002 Rotary Lombardi
Committee Chairman.
Now in its 33rd year of honoring the top lineman in Division I football,
the Rotary Lombardi Award Dinner has raised over $2.6 million for The
American Cancer Society since it was first held in 1970. Table sales for the
2002 Lombardi Award Dinner are currently underway.
2002 ROTARY LOMBARDI WATCH LIST
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(Preliminary list as of 04/04/02)
NAME - POSITION - SCHOOL
Lance Briggs LB Arizona
Josh Brindel DL Navy
Chris Brown LB Hawaii
Nick Burley DE Fresno State
Chris Daley DL South Florida
Rod Davis LB Southern Miss
Sheldon Deckart LB Utah
Darnell Dockett DL Florida State
Nat Dorsey OT Georgia Tech
Jeff Faine OL Notre Dame
Lawrence Flugence LB Texas Tech
Greg Gathers DL Georgia Tech
Ronnie Ghent TE Louisville
Adam Goldberg OL Wyoming
Brandon Green DT Rice
Tommie Harris DT Oklahoma
Gerald Hayes LB Pittsburgh
E.J. Henderson LB Maryland
Victor Hobson LB Michigan
Brady James LB LSU
Eric Johnson OL Wisconsin
Terrell Jones LB Miami (Ohio)
Jason Kaufusi DT Utah
Chris Kelsay DL Nebraska
Jimmy Kennedy DT Penn State
Dan Klecko OT Temple
Eric Manning DT Oregon State
Jerome McDougle DL Miami (Fla.)
Nathan McPeek OL Marshall
Tony Pashos OL Illinois
Elon Patterson DE Central Florida
Antwan Peek DL Cincinnati
Corey Redding DL Texas
Brian Rimpf OL East Carolina
Matt Robillard LB Miami (Ohio)
Derrick Roche OL Washington State
Bret Romberg C Miami (Fla.)
Steve Sciullo OL Marshall
Clifton Smith LB Syracuse
Garrett Smith DT Utah
Eric Steinbach OL Iowa
Jon Stinchcomb OG Georgia
Terell Suggs DL Arizona State
Jonathan Vilma LB Miami (Fla.)
Vic Viloria LB SMU
Dewayne White DL Louisville
Todd Wike OG Maryland
Jimmy Wilkerson DE Oklahoma
Brett Williams OT Florida State
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