J.T. Barrett, Pat Elflein Among 20 Nominees for Lombardi Award

By Eric Seger on November 15, 2016 at 5:41 pm
J.T. Barrett and Pat Elflein are two of the top-20 nominees for the Lombardi Award.
7 Comments

Add some more recognition for two of Ohio State's football captains.

Quarterback J.T. Barrett and center Pat Elflein are two of the top 20 nominees for the Rotary Lombardi Award, the Rotary Club of Houston announced on Tuesday. The award is typically reserved for college football's top lineman but extended to include all positions that "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."

Barrett is one of nine non-linemen in the top-20 nominees.

Barrett is also a semifinalist for the Maxwell and Davey O'Brien Awards, given to college football's player of the year and top quarterback, respectively. Elflein is one of the country's top centers.

Players found their name on the preliminary watch list in the summer by receiving All-American honors, being named to their respective all-conference teams, or by receiving 2016 pre-season honors. A panel of head coaches, sports journalists and members of the Football Writers Association of America (approximately 400 people) narrowed the list to 20 on Tuesday.

The award ceremony date is set to be announced at a later date, in addition to three finalists.

Top 20 Lombardi Award Nominations
NAME POSITION SCHOOL
JONATHAN ALLEN DE ALABAMA
REUBEN FOSTER LB ALABAMA
CAM ROBINSON OT ALABAMA
MONTRAVIOUS ADAMS DT AUBURN
CARL LAWSON DE AUBURN
CHRISTIAN WILKINS DT CLEMSON
DESHAUN WATSON QB CLEMSON
DALVIN COOK RB FLORIDA STATE
DEMARCUS WALKER DE FLORIDA STATE
LAMAR JACKSON QB LOUISVILLE
JABRILL PEPPERS LB/DB MICHIGAN
J.T. BARRETT QB OHIO STATE
PAT ELFLEIN C OHIO STATE
EVAN ENGRAM TE OLE MISS
JAMES CONNER RB PITTSBURGH
EJUAN PRICE DL PITTSBURGH
DONNEL PUMPHREY RB SAN DIEGO STATE
DEREK BARNETT DE TENNESSEE
MYLES GARRETT DE TEXAS A&M
JAKE BROWNING QB WASHINGTON
7 Comments
View 7 Comments