HOUSTON — The Alabama football team matched Clemson with nine players on the watch list for the 2016 Rotary Lombardi Award, announced Thursday by the Rotary Club of Houston.
Ole Miss placed four on the list of 158 players. The award recognizes the nation’s top college football player. Alabama’s Cornelius Bennett won the award in 1986.
Alabama’s nine candidates equals Clemson for the most in the country.
Alabama defensive linemen Jonanthan Allen, Da’Shawn Hand, Da’Ron Payne, and Dalvin Tomlinson, linebackers Ryan Anderson, Reuben Foster, and Tim Williams, tight end O.J. Howard and offensive lineman Cam Robinson were named to the list.
Ole Miss tight end Evan Engram, defensive end Marquis Haynes, defensive tackle D.J. Jones, and quarterback Chad Kelly were named to the list.
Due to a change in its criteria in 2016, the Rotary Lombardi Award is open to college football players regardless of position, who “demonstrate outstanding performance and skill in offensive or defensive positions and best exemplify the discipline, virtue and wisdom that defined Vincent Lombardi’s exceptional brand of leadership.” The award is named in honor of former Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi.
The Rotary Lombardi Award has been presented annually since 1970 by the Rotary Club of Houston. Prior to 2016, the award recognized the top offensive or defensive lineman or linebacker in college football. The award ceremony date will be announced later this season.
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