SMU's Ryan Kennedy added to Lombardi Award Watch List

[Webmaster]

HOUSTON - SMU junior tight end Ryan Kennedy has been added to the updated version of the official Lombardi Award Watch List, the Executive Committee of the Rotary Lombardi Award announced today. Kennedy, who finished 2004 with 21 catches for 254 yards, is among 123 players on the 2005 list.

The Rotary Lombardi Award will celebrate its 36th year of honoring the finest linemen in college football on Dec. 7 at the Hilton Americas Hotel in Downtown Houston. All net proceeds from the dinner and related activities are donated to the American Cancer Society. Since the first dinner in 1971, nearly $3.1 million has been raised through the efforts of Rotarians and their guests

This year's Watch List is divided up nearly equally, with 58 offensive players and 63 defensive players who meet the playing criteria currently on the list. To be eligible for the Rotary Lombardi Award, a player my play on the line of scrimmage (including tight ends on offensive) or must be a linebacker who lines up within five yards of the football.

The 123 members of the Watch List earned a place on the Watch List by earning All-American honors at the end of the 2004 (or previous seasons), by being named to their respective All Conference team as selected by the conference's head coaches or by being named to one of the pre-season honor teams. Additional players will be added to the list, based on performance, prior to the start of the first round of voting at the end of September.

Last year, two of the 12 semifinalists for the award were not included on the Watch List at the start of the 2004 season (Erasmus James and Jonathan Goddard), but were recognized for their performances at the start of the year. James eventually was one of the four finalists for last year's award.

While the Watch List highlights players who have already received national recognition, any Division I player who meets the position requirements is eligible for initial consideration from the Rotary Lombardi Selection Committee. The Rotary Lombardi Award Selection Committee 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 is intended as a reference tool for the Selection Committee and is not intended in any way to represent the complete list of candidates for the 36th Rotary Lombardi Award.

[PK]

Ryan is a hell of a tight end and congrats for making the watch list. Here is wishing him a great year and I'll be watching too with high hopes that he gets his well deserved dues. Coach...get that ball in his hands!

[Ikus]

Amen! He could be unstoppable, if we use him right.