Preseason accolades continue to stack up for Alabama, as nine student-athletes were named to the Rotary Lombardi Award list on Thursday. The Lombardi award, which is given annually to the nation’s best lineman or linebacker (since 1970), is presented by the Rotary Club in Houston, Texas in honor of legendary coach Vince Lombardi—of whom the NFL’s Super Bowl Trophy is named after.
Among the 158 candidates announced for the award were Jonathan Allen, Ryan Anderson, O.J. Howard, Reuben Foster, Tim Williams, Da’Shawn Hand, Da’Ron Payne, Dalvin Tomlinson and Cameron Robinson. While this is the first preseason honor for Hand, Payne and Tomlinson, Howard, Foster, Allen, Anderson, Williams and Robinson have appeared on multiple award watch lists.
The Lombardi Award represents outstanding performers on the field, as well as quality leadership traits on and off the field. A date for the award ceremony and updated list of candidates will be provided at a later time.
Stephen M. Smith is a senior analyst and columnist for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @Smsmith_TDALMag.
