Three Seminoles, Nigel Bradham, Brandon Jenkins, and Andrew Datko, are among those named to the just released watch list for the Rotary Lombardi Award. They are among the seven Seminoles' who have already been named to these ever growing pre-season watch lists.
While these lists are somewhat meaningless at this time of year, the fact that many more FSU players are making these watch lists, as compared to the recent past, is a tribute to the higher quality of recruits the coaching staff has been bringing in as of late, and the better coaching they are receiving once they arrive on campus.
Eligibility for the Rotary Lombardi Award is limited to down linemen, end-to-end, either on offense of defense, who set up no farther than 10 yards to the left or right of the ball, and linebackers who set up no father than five yards deep from the line of scrimmage.
The candidates earned a place on the Official Watch List by earning All-American honors last season, by being named to their respective all-conference first team last season as selected by the conference’s head coaches, by being projected to be an All-American or first team all-conference player for the coming season, or by nomination approved by the nominations committee.
Representing Florida State on the Rotary Lombardi Watch List are:
Senior linebacker Nigel Bradham, who has led the Noles in tackles for the past two seasons.
Senior offensive tackle Andrew Datko, who has only missed 3 starts during his four years as a starter.
Junior defensive end Brandon Jenkins, who finished tied for third in the nation and second in the ACC with 13.5 sacks, and was named 1st Team All-ACC last season.
The ACC is well represented with 19 players on the Rotary Lombardi watch list.
As of today, seven Seminoles' names have already appeared on watch list for six different awards. They are Dustin Hopkins, Greg Reid, Xavier Rhodes, Brandon Jenkins, Andrew Datko, Nigel Bradham, and EJ Manuel.
In fact, Nigel Bradham and Brandon Jenkins are now on three of the nation's top defensive awards watch lists, the Lombardi, Bednarik, and Nagurski. Meanwhile, Rhodes is on two of the same top defensive awards watch lists, the Bednarik and Nagurski.
A senior linebacker, Bradham is one of four `Noles to make the Bednarik Award list of 65 preseason candidates for the trophy presented to the nation's most outstanding defensive player by the Maxwell Football club. He is also one of 82 players named to the list of Nagurski candidates, who are also contending for the nation's most outstanding defensive player award presented by the Charlotte Touchdown Club. Entering his third year as a starter, the Crawfordville, Fla. native has led the team in tackles each of the last two seasons. In 2010 he set new career-highs for tackles (98), passes defended (5) and sacks (5), while matching his previous best in tackles for loss (5.5).
Jenkins, a junior defensive end, burst on the scene last year with one of the top seasons in FSU football history. With 13.5 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss, the Tallahassee native ranked third and tied for fourth, respectively, in the two categories. His tackles for loss were the third-most in Seminole history, while his sack total tied for the fifth-best season. Not surprisingly, the 2010 first-team All-ACC selection, is a consensus preseason All-American candidate.
The same is true for Rhodes, a sophomore cornerback from Miami, who claimed ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2010. A 14-game starter, he was a consensus Freshman All-American after recording 12 pass break-ups and four interceptions, which was good for a share of the team lead. A second-team All-ACC selection, Rhodes registered 58 tackles (49 solo), two sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss and recovered two fumbles for the 10-4 Seminoles.
Fellow cornerback Greg Reid also made the watch list for the Bednarik Award after compiling a season full of big plays. A first-year starter as a sophomore in 2010, Reid led the `Noles with 14 pass break-ups, forced three fumbles and swiped three interceptions. An honorable mention All-ACC selection, he also registered a career-high 65 tackles, including three tackles for loss. A Valdosta, Ga. native, Reid capped his season by claiming Chick-fil-A Bowl Defensive MVP honors at the Georgia Dome after forcing two fumbles, breaking up four passes and registering five tackles in FSU's 27-16 win over South Carolina.
Redshirt junior quarterback EJ Manuel, who has posted a 4-2 record as a starter over the past two seasons, is one of 66 players initially identified as a candidate for the prestigious Maxwell Award. The award goes to the nation's most outstanding all-around player and is presented by the Maxwell Football Club. Manuel, who takes over the reins from Christian Ponder, passed for 861 yards and ran for 170 more in 10 games during the 2010 season. The Virginia Beach, Va. native led the Seminoles to a pivotal regular season win over Clemson and threw for a career-high 288 yards against Virginia Tech in the ACC Championship game, while starting in Ponder's absence. His game management and mobility were instrumental in directing the `Noles past South Carolina in the Chick-fil-A Bowl after Ponder suffered a first half injury. Manuel secured the 26-17 victory with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Taiwan Easterling with 6:22 remaining.
Senior offensive tackle Andrew Datko enters his final year as a fourth-season starting left tackle for the Seminoles. The former Freshman All-American from Weston, Fla. has anchored that spot with precision pass blocking, while developing into an outstanding edge blocker, worthy of candidacy for the Outland Award, presented to the nation's most outstanding interior lineman by the Football Writers Association of America. Despite missing three games due to injury in 2010, Datko posted the Seminoles' second-highest grade among linemen at 87 percent, trailing only Rodney Hudson, who was an Outland Trophy finalist. He relinquished only one sack, was penalized just three times and had only five missed assignments in 691 snaps.
Dustin Hopkins was a semifinalist for the 2010 Lou Groza Award, presented to the nation's most outstanding place-kicker by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission. Not surprisingly, he was one of 30 players selected to the Groza Watch List in 2011. A junior from Houston, Texas, he converted 22 of 28 field goal attempts and led the Atlantic Coast Conference with 119 points, which was also the third highest scoring season in FSU history. He enters the year working on a streak of 86 consecutive successful point-after conversions. Hopkins' sophomore campaign was highlighted by his 55-yard field goal to beat Clemson as time expired, and capped by his 14-point performance in the Chick-fil-A Bowl, when he matched an FSU bowl record with four field goals.
While the Lombardi 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. This 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, intended as a reference tool for the Selection Committee, will be periodically updated and revised up to the first round of voting to determine the 12 Semifinalists for 2011.
Last year’s Rotary Lombardi Award winner, Nick Fairley (Auburn), was drafted by the Detroit Lions and Finalist Adrian Clayborn (Iowa) was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, both in the first round of the National Football League draft.
Here is the complete watch list for the 42nd Rotary Lombardi Award, which will be presented on December 6-7, 2011 at Reliant Center in Houston, Texas.
Player
Pos
School
Player Highlights
Mike Adams
OT
Ohio St.
1st Team All-Big 10, started all 13 games in 2010
Levy Adcock
OT
Oklahoma St.
1st Team All-Big 12, 13 starts at tackle in 2010
Jeff Allen
OT
Illinois
2nd Team All-Big 10, 34 consecutive starts
Alvin Bailey
G
Arkansas
All-SEC freshman team in 2010, started 13 games
Don Barclay
OT
W. Virginia
2nd Team All-Big East honors in 2010
Kelvin Beachum
OT
SMU
1st Team All-CUSA, started all 39 games in his career
Jake Bequette
DE
Arkansas
2nd Team All-SEC, led team with seven sacks in 2010
Nigel Bradham
LB
Florida St.
Led the Seminoles in tackles for the past two seasons
Mike Brewster
C
Ohio St.
1st Team All-Big 10, 3 year starter for the Buckeyes
Tanner Brock
LB
TCU
1st Team All-MWC, led team in tackles with 106
Jaymes Brooks
G
Va. Tech
2nd Team All-ACC honors in 2010
Austin Brown
DT
Miami
2nd Team All-MAC, 27 solos, 10 tackles for loss (TFLs)
Vince Browne
DE
Northwestern
2nd Team All-Big 10, led team with 7 sacks in 2010
Vontaze Burfict
LB
Arizona St.
2nd Team All-Pac 10, led ASU with 90 tackles
Ben Burkett
C
Northwestern
Rimington Award watch list for 3rd straight year
Miles Burris
LB
San Diego St.
1st Team All-MWC, led team with 80 tackles, 9.5 sacks
Thomas Byrd
C
Boise St.
1st Team All-WAC, started 27 games in ’09 and ‘10
Tank Carder
LB
TCU
1st Team All-MWC, 2011 Rose Bowl Defensive MVP
Audie Cole
LB
NC St.
Led team in tackles in '09, 3rd on team with 86 in '10
Jonathan Cooper
G
N. Carolina
2nd Team All-ACC, 22 consecutive starts
Quinton Coples
DT
N. Carolina
1st Team All-ACC, 3rd in the ACC with 10 sacks
Jared Crick
DT
Nebraska
1st Team All-Big 12, RLA semi-finalist & 2nd team A-A
Vinny Curry
DE
Marshall
1st Team All-CUSA, 5th in the nation with 12 sacks
Andrew Datko
OT
Florida St.
Four year starter, only missed three starts in career
Lavonte David
LB
Nebraska
2nd Team AP A-A, 1st Team All-Big 12
Ja'Gared Davis
LB
SMU
1st Team All-CUSA, led team with 8 sacks and 15 TFLs
Demario Davis
LB
Arkansas St.
1st Team All-Sun Belt, 63 tackles, 3.5 TFLs
David DeCastro
G
Stanford
1st Team All-Pac 10, anchors OL that gave up 13 sacks
Blake DeChristopher
OT
Va. Tech
2nd Team All-ACC, has made 37 career starts
Joe Duhon
G
So. Miss.
Honorable Men. All-CUSA, started 9 games in 2010
Lonnie Edwards
G
Texas Tech
1st Team All-Big 12, played in 13 games in 2010
Joe Flading
OT
Ohio
1st Team All-MAC, led team with 62 pancake blocks
Joel Foreman
G
Michigan St.
Honorable Men. All-Big 10, 36 career starts at guard
Marcus Forston
DT
Miami
Rebounded from injury in 2009 with 12 TFLs
Jerry Franklin
LB
Arkansas
2nd Team All-SEC, led the team with 95 tackles in 2010
Dalton Freeman
C
Clemson
22 consecutive starts at center, allowed only 2 sacks
Cordy Glenn
G/T
Georgia
Started 36 games at guard over the last 3 years
Stephen Good
G
Oklahoma
Recorded 81 knockdowns on 500 snaps last year
Ben Habern
C
Oklahoma
Honorable Men. All-Big 12, 14 starts at center
Logan Harrell
DT
Fresno St.
1st Team All-WAC, led team with 10.5 sacks (14 TFLs)
Dont’a Hightower
LB
Alabama
2nd Team All-SEC in 2010, 69 tackles
Alex Hoffman
G
Cincinnati
2nd Team All-Big East, started all 13 games
Jaye Howard
DT
Florida
Played in 31 games, 66 career tackles and 15.5 TFLs
Bruce Irvin
DE
W. Virginia
2nd Team All-Big East, 2nd in nation with 14 sacks
Malik Jackson
DE/DT
Tennessee
2nd Team All-SEC, led Vols with 11 TFLs and 5 sacks
Brandon Jenkins
DE
Florida St.
1st Team All-ACC, led the ACC with 13.5 sacks
Tony Jerod-Eddie
DL
Texas A&M
Played in all games since arrival in Aggieland
Luke Joeckel
OT
Texas A&M
Freshman A-A, started all 13 games
Cam Johnson
DT
Virginia
3rd Team All-ACC, 53 tackles, 14.5 TFLs, 6.5 sacks
Chandler Jones
DE
Syracuse
2nd Team All-Big East, four sacks and 9.5 TFLs
Barrett Jones
G
Alabama
2nd Team All-SEC, 24 career starts at guard
Ben Jones
C
Georgia
4th Team All-SEC, started 12 games in 2010
Matt Kalil
OT
USC
13 career starts at left tackle for USC
Mychal Kendricks
LB
Cal.
2nd Team All-PAC 10, 8.5 sacks, 15 TFLs, 3 fumbles
Jake Knott
LB
Iowa St.
2nd Team All-Big 12, 2nd in the Big 12 with 130 tackles
Peter Konz
C
Wisconsin
Honorable Men. All-Big 10, started 11 games
Luke Kuechly
LB
Boston College
1st Team A-A and All-ACC, led nation in tackles
Shaun Lewis
LB
Oklahoma St.
Big 12 co-Freshman Defensive Player of the Year
Travis Lewis
LB
Oklahoma
2nd Team All-Big 12, led the Sooners with 109 tackles
Brandon Lindsey
DE
Pittsburgh
2nd Team All-Big East, led Panthers with 10 sacks
Trent Mackey
LB
Tulane
2nd Team All-CUSA, led Green Wave with 124 tackles
Brad Madison
DL
Missouri
2nd Team All-Big 12, 11 TFLs, 7.5 sacks
Jonathan Martin
OT
Stanford
1st Team All-Pac 10, has 24 career starts for the Cardinal
Mike Martin
DT
Michigan
2nd team All-Big 10, six TFLs in 2010
Chris Marve
LB
Vanderbilt
2nd Team All-SEC, led team with eight TFLs
Jonathan Massaquoi
DE
Troy
1st Team All-Sun Belt, 4th in the nation with 13.5 sacks
Matt McCants
OT
UAB
1st Team All-CUSA, 31 career starts
Shea McClellin
DE
Boise St.
1st Team All-WAC, led Broncos with 9.5 sacks
Marcus McGraw
LB
Houston
2nd Team All-CUSA, 156 tackles, 75 solo tackles
Cameron Meredith
DE
Nebraska
2nd Team All-Big 12 in 2010, 64 tackles
Carmen Messina
LB
New Mexico
2nd Team All-MWC, 1st in the MWC with 115 tackles
Ryan Miller
G
Colorado
Honorable Men. All-Big 12, 35 career starts in Big 12
Julian Miller
DT
W. Virginia
Tied for team lead with 14 TFLs
David Molk
C
Michigan
1st Team All-Big 10, started 13 games after 2009 injury
Roosevelt Nix
DE
Kent St.
1st Team All-MAC, 20 TFLs and nine sacks
Trevor Olson
OT
N. Illinois
1st Team All-MAC, NIU's Offensive lineman of the Year
Kelechi Osemele
OT
Iowa St.
Honorable Men. All-Big 12 ('10), 2nd Team Big 12 ('09)
Donte Paige-Moss
DE
N. Carolina
2nd on the team with 7 sacks and 13.5 TFLs
Corey Paredes
LB
Hawaii
1st Team All-WAC, 14th in the nation with 151 tackles
Nick Perry
DE
USC
12 career sacks in 10 starts, 7.5 TFLs, 25 tackles
Moe Petrus
C
U Conn
2nd Team All-Big East, 39 career starts
Nate Potter
OT
Boise St.
3rd Team AP A-A, 1st team All-WAC (2nd straight year)
Tydreke Powell
DT
N. Carolina
Captain as a junior, finished the season with 47 tackles
Sean Progar
DE
N. Illinois
1st Team All-MAC, 10 TFLs and four sacks
Kheeson Randall
DL
Texas
Honorable Men. All-Big 12, 22 starts, 16 TFLs
Taylor Reed
LB
SMU
Led SMU with 145 tackles, finished 16th in the nation
Riley Reiff
OT
Iowa
2nd Team All-Big 10 honors, 21 consecutive starts
Kendall Reyes
DE
U Conn
1st Team All-Big East, 10 TFLs
Matt Reynolds
OT
BYU
2x 1st Team All-MWC selection, 39 career starts
Travian Robertson
DT
S. Carolina
14 starts, finished the season with 10 TFLs
Keenan Robinson
LB
Texas
Honorable Men. All-Big 12, led in tackles with 106
Adrian Robinson
DE
Temple
1st Team All-MAC, 3.5 sacks for the Owls in 2010
Mike Ryan
OT
U Conn
1st Team All-Big East, 12 starts at right & left tackle
Quentin Saulsberry
G/C
Miss. St.
37 career starts at tackle, center and guard
JK Schaffer
LB
Cincinnati
2nd Team All-Big East, two straight 100+ tackle seasons
Mitchell Schwartz
OT
Cal
2nd Team All-Pac 10, fixture for Cal's OL, 38 starts
Mychall Sisson
LB
Colorado St.
2nd Team All-MWC in 2010, 38.5 career TFLs
Shayne Skov
LB
Stanford
Honorable Men. All-Pac 10, led team with 84 stops
Jacquies Smith
DE
Missouri
2nd Team All-Big 12, 5.5 sacks in 2010
Bradley Sowell
OT
Ole Miss
2nd Team All-SEC, started 24 of last 25 games
Sean Spence
LB
Miami
2nd Team All-ACC, 111 tackles in 2010
Andrew Sweat
LB
Ohio St.
41 tackles in 2010, 1 interception
Alameda Ta'amu
DT
Washington
Honorable Men. All-Pac 10, five TFLs in 2010
Bruce Taylor
LB
Virginia Tech
2nd Team All-ACC, 15.5 TFLs, 91 total stops
Devin Taylor
DE
South Carolina
1st Team All-SEC, led the Gamecocks with 13 TFLs
Manti Te'o
LB
Notre Dame
21 tackles against Stanford, 133 tackles in 2010
Taylor Thompson
DE
SMU
1st Team All-CUSA, 2nd on team with 5.5 sacks
Chris Thompson
C
Houston
1st Team All-CUSA, 37 starts at G and T, moved to C
Danny Trevathan
LB
Kentucky
1st Team All-SEC, led the SEC with 144 tackles
Jabaree Tuani
DE
Navy
Led the Midshipmen with 15.5 TFLs in 2010
Courtney Upshaw
DE/LB
Alabama
Led the Crimson Tide with 7 sacks and 14.5 TFLs
Joe Vellano
DT
Maryland
2nd Team All-ACC, 10.5 TFLs
William Vlachos
C
Alabama
2nd Team All-SEC, started 27 straight games at center
Bobby Wagner
LB
Utah St.
1st Team All-WAC, 7th in nation with 133 tackles
Chaz Walker
LB
Utah
2nd Team All-MWC, 74 tackles in 2010
Larry Warford
G
Kentucky
2nd Team All-SEC, started all 13 games at right guard
Brandon Washington
G
Miami
1st Team All-ACC, leader of experienced line in Miami
Scott Wedige
C
N. Illinois
1st Team All-MAC, started all 13 games in 2010
Sean Westgate
LB
UCLA
Honorable Men. All-PAC 10, 90 tackles, 11 TFLs
Garrick Williams
LB
Texas A&M
Honorable Men. All-Big 12, 112 tackles in 2010
Korey Williams
LB
So. Miss
Led So. Miss in tackles with 92 and TFLs with 14.5
Billy Winn
DT
Boise St.
2x 2nd Team All-WAC, 9.5 TFLs in 2010
Jerel Worthy
DT
Michigan St.
26 career games, 77 tackles, 17 TFLs, 8.5 sacks
Carson York
G
Oregon
Honorable Men. All-Pac 10, started all 13 games at G
Kevin Zeitler
G
Wisconsin
Honorable Men. All-Big 10, played in all 13 games
Sources: The 2011 Official Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List Released and the Florida State University Sports Information Department.