10/30/02

Cory Redding tabbed Lombardi Trophy semifinalist

	Cory Redding

HOUSTON -- On the heels of three outstanding performances against Top 25 opponents, Texas senior DE Cory Redding (Houston, Texas) was named one of 12 Lombardi Trophy semifinalists (nation's outstanding interior linemen) on Wednesday.

A preseason consensus All-American and a semifinalist for the Ted Hendricks Award (nation's outstanding defensive end), Redding has been at his best in posting 16 tackles (11 solo), nine TFLs, four sacks, eight QB pressures and a forced fumble the last three games (all against Top 25 opponents, vs. No. 2 Oklahoma; at No. 17 Kansas State; vs. No. 17 Iowa State). He was a one-man wrecking crew in recording seven tackles, two sacks, four TFLs, five QB pressures and a forced a fumble in the Longhorns' 17-14 win at No. 17 Kansas State. He had seven tackles, three TFLs, one sack and a QB pressure in helping contain Iowa State's explosive quarterback, Seneca Wallace, last Saturday.

Redding has 46 tackles (32 solo), two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and leads the defense with 11 TFLs (-24 yards), four sacks (-19 yards) and 25 QB pressures this season. The Horns currently rank third nationally in total defense (258.9 ypg), passing defense (133.4 ypg) and scoring defense (13.2 ppg).

USA Today's National Prep Defensive Player of the Year in 1998, the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year in 1999 and 2001 first-team All-Big 12 and Associated Press second-team All-American, Redding ranks ninth on Texas' career TFLs list (44) and has registered 181 tackles, 17.5 sacks and 65 QB pressures in four seasons with the Longhorns.

Redding is joined by three members of the Miami Hurricanes — DT William Joseph, DE Jerome McDougle and C Brett Romberg — Georgia LB Boss Bailey and OT Jon Stinchcomb, Notre Dame C Jeff Faine, Oklahoma DT Tommie Harris, Maryland LB E.J. Henderson, LSU LB Bradie James, Penn State DT Jimmy Kennedy and Arizona State DE Terrell Suggs.

	Senior DE Cory Redding has been at his best over UT's last three contests with 16 tackles (11 solo), nine TFLs, four sacks, eight QB pressures and a forced fumble, all against Top 25 opponents.

Texas has had two Lombardi Trophy winners (DT Kenneth Sims, 1981 and DT Tony Degrate, 1984) and featured five other players among the Lombardi Trophy finalists (OT Doug Dawson, 1983/DT Steve McMichael, 1979/DT Brad Shearer, 1977/C Bill Wyman, 1973/OT Jerry Sisemore, 1972).

The 12 semifinalists were selected in a vote of more than 400 members of the Rotary Lombardi Selection Committee, which includes all Division I head football coaches, selected sports writers and broadcasters from around the country and the past winners of the award. Voting to determine the four finalists for the 33rd Rotary Lombardi Award will begin this Sunday, Nov. 3 and continue through Nov. 11.

The four finalists will be flown to Houston to attend the gala Rotary Lombardi Award Dinner, which will be held on the field of Houston's Reliant Stadium on Wednesday, Dec. 11. Former President George Bush is the Honorary Chairman of the 2002 event and will speak at the dinner, as will legendary Green Bay Packers lineman Jerry Kramer and Houston Texans owner Bob McNair.

This marks the first time the Rotary Lombardi Award Dinner has moved from a hotel ballroom and also the first time an event of this magnitude will be hosted in the newly-opened Reliant Stadium.

Now in its 33rd year of honoring the top lineman or linebacker in Division I-A football, the Rotary Lombardi Award Dinner has raised more than $2.6 million for The American Cancer Society since it was first held in 1970.

Eligibility for the Rotary Lombardi Award is limited to Division I-A down linemen and those defensive players who line up within five yards of the football.

Table sales for the 2002 Lombardi Award Dinner are currently underway. For more information about participating in or supporting the 2002 Dinner as a sponsor, please call 713/942-1209 or visit the award's official Web site, by clicking here.