Three Longhorns named to 2005 Rotary Lombari Award Watch List

HOUSTON - Three Longhorns are among a list of players who have been included in the preliminary Watch List for the 36th Rotary Lombardi Award, which was released today in Houston. Offensive tackles Justin Blalock and Jonathan Scott along with defensive tackle Rodrique Wright were named to the list of candidates for the award, which will be presented on December 7 at the Hilton Americas Hotel in Houston. Longhorn All-American linebacker Derrick Johnson was one of four finalists for last year's Lombardi Award.

Scott and Wright both earned All-America honors last season and were joined by Blalock as consensus first-team All-Big 12 selections. Blalock, a 6-4, 329-pound junior from Plano and Scott, a 6-7, 310-pound senior from Dallas, both started all 12 games last season, helping Texas rank second in the nation in rushing (2992.2 ypg), seventh in total offense (464.4 ypg) and 12th in scoring (35.3 ppg). Texas' 3,590 rushing yards last season was the third-highest total in school history.

Wright a 6-5, 305-pound senior from Houston played in 11 games last season, posted 36 tackles, a sack, three tackles for loss and seven QB pressures. He was a key member of a defense that ranked 16th in the nation against the run (107.4 ypg), 18th in scoring defense (17.2 ppg) and 23rd in total defense (320.1 ypg).

The 54 preliminary candidates earned a place on the initial Watch List by earning All-American honors at the end of the 2004 or previous seasons, or by being named to their respective All Conference team as selected by the conference's head coaches. The Watch List will be updated prior to the start of the 2005 season, in order to identify those players who have been selected as pre-season honors candidates.

Eligibility for the Rotary Lombardi Award is limited to down linemen and those defensive players who line up within five yards of the football. While the watch lists highlight 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 over 500 members, including all past finalists, all Division I head coaches and a panel of 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 2005.

Bazuin Dan DT Central Michigan
Blades H.B. LB Pittsburgh
Blalock Justin OT Texas
Brooks Ahmad LB Virginia
Colledge Daryn OL Boise State
Cook Ryan OL New Mexico
Cottrell Jimmy LB New Mexico State
Detering Will LB Washington State
Eslinger Greg C Minnesota
Ferguson D'Brickashaw OT Virginia
Fifita Steve DL Utah
Greenway Chad LB Iowa
Hall Korey LB Boise State
Harris Clark TE Rutgers
Havner Spencer LB UCLA
Hawk A.J. LB Ohio State
Hodge Abdul LB Iowa
Jackson D'Qwell LB Maryland
Jean-Gilles Max OL Georgia
Johnson Marcus DL Miami (OH)
Kiwanuka Mathias DL Boston College
Lee Javan LB Northern Illinois
Leffew Travis OT Louisville
Lentz Matt OG Michigan
Lips Aaron OL Louisiana Tech
Love Grayling OL Arizona State
Massaquoi Tim TE Michigan
McIntyre Garrett DE Fresno State
McNeill Marcus OL Auburn
McSwain Larry DL UAB
Mahelona Jesse DT Tennessee
Mills Garrett TE Tulsa
Mineo Chris DL UTEP
Mozes Dan OL West Virginia
Nande Terna LB Miami (OH)
O'Callaghan Ryan OL California
Osemwegie Moses LB Vanderbilt
Parker Marcus DL New Mexico
Philip Marvin OL California
Pope Leonard TE Georgia
Scheffler Tony TE Western Michigan
Scott Johnathan OL Texas
Snyder Cole LB Idaho
Stenavich Adam OL Michigan
Syptak John DE Rice
Tapp Darryl DL Virginia Tech
Van Acker Brian C Northern Illinois
Warren Rob OL Bowling Green
Watson Gabe DL Michigan
Whitworth Andrew OL LSU
Williams Travis LB Auburn
Williams Mario DL North Carolina State
Winston Eric OL Miami
Wright Rodrique DL Texas