Justin Rogers added to Lombardi Award Watch List

[PonyPride]

Rogers Added To Lombardi Award Watch List
Senior One Of 58 Additions To List
Aug. 10, 2006

HOUSTON - SMU defensive end Justin Rogers was one of 58 players that have been added to the Rotary Lombardi Award's Watch List, the organization announced Thursday, Aug. 10. The 37th Rotary Lombardi Award, presented by Wachovia Bank, honors the top lineman in college football while raising funds for the American Cancer Society. The award will be presented in Houston on Dec. 6 at the Hilton Americas Hotel.

Rogers, a senior from Greenville, Texas, earned second-team All-C-USA honors a year ago and shared SMU Defensive MVP honors with Rolando Humphrey and Joe Sturdivant. He led Conference USA in sacks with seven and ranked in the top 10 in tackles-for-loss and forced fumbles. He has also been named a preseason honorable mention All-American by Street & Smith.

The new players were added to the preliminary list of 43 players who were announced in March. The new additions are players who have been highlighted in various pre-season honors lists. While the 101 players currently on the Watch List represent many of the top honors candidates in the country, the list is not intended to serve as the actual ballot when first round voting begins in late September.

Any player who meets the basic award criteria (a down lineman on either side of the ball--including tight ends, and linebackers who line up within five yards of the ball) is eligible to receive votes. In each of the past two years (Erasmus James in 2004 and Elvis Dumervil in 2005) an eventual finalist for the award was not included on the Watch List at the start of the season.

This year's list is almost evenly divided between offensive and defensive players, with 54 defenders and 47 offensive players currently listed.

Founded in the weeks following the death of legendary football coach Vince Lombardi from cancer in 1970, the Rotary Lombardi Award, presented by Wachovia Bank, has annually delivered upon the mission set forth by Marie Lombardi when she first granted the use of her late husband's name. Her only stipulation was that all net proceeds from the event be donated to the American Cancer Society and millions of dollars have been generated since that time. In addition to generating the annual donation to ACS, attendees to the 2005 combined to sponsor 31 pediatric cancer patients for a week at Camp Discovery, a camp near Kerrville, Texas, dedicated to bringing the joy and fun of summer camp to young cancer patients.

[MrMustang1965]

Alright, Justin! Congratulations on your nomination! Now go kick some butt this season and WIN THE LOMBARDI AWARD! GO JUSTIN! GO MUSTANGS!

[Mustangs35SMU]

Great news! Congratulations!!

[Sasser Rules]

Rogers should have been on the list all along. #40 is going to be huge this year!