Though the NCAA football season closed its books with Tua Tagoviola’s game-winning touchdown strike during Alabama’s clinch of a College Football National Title, there is one more thrill left on its docket — the Lombardi Trophy.
And time for one more Texas alum to make a bid for collegiate football greatness.
[su_pullquote align=”right”]NOMINEE POSITON SCHOOL
SAQUON BARKLEY RB PENN STATE
J.T. BARRETT QB OHIO STATE
BRADLEY CHUBB DE N.C. STATE
TYRELL CROSBY OT OREGON
DESHON ELLIOTT S TEXAS
MINKAH FITZPATRICK S ALABAMA
SHAQUEM GRIFFIN LB UCF
LAMAR JACKSON QB LOUISVILLE
DERWIN JAMES S FLORIDA STATE
JOEL LANNING LB/QB IOWA STATE
BRYCE LOVE RB STANFORD
HERCULES MATA’AFA DE WASHINGTON STATE
BAKER MAYFIELD QB OKLAHOMA
QUENTON NELSON G NOTRE DAME
ED OLIVER DT HOUSTON
DA’RON PAYNE DT ALABAMA
RASHAAD PENNY RB SAN DIEGO STATE
ROQUAN SMITH LB GEORGIA
VITA VEA DT WASHINGTON
JAMES WASHINGTON WR OKLAHOMA STATE
CHRISTIAN WILKINS DT CLEMSON[/su_pullquote]
The award’s selection committee named James Washington, a former Stamford High School and current Oklahoma State wide receiver, on Monday. He was named as one of the 21 nominees, joining Wichita Falls Rider’s J.T. Barrett, Rockwall-Heath’s Deshon Elliott, Lake Travis’ Baker Mayfield, and Spring Westfield’s Ed Oliver.
According to the the Houston, Texas-based Lombardi Foundation, the Lombardi Award is awarded to an NCAA Division I player, regardless of position based on performance, leadership, character, and resiliency.
Washington, the only wide receiver nominated for the Lombardi Award, led the nation with 1,549 receiving yards en route to shattering Oklahoma State’s all-time single-season receiving record. The subsequent Biletnikoff Award he earned was the third won by an Cowboy receiver — the most by any school.
The foundation’s press release also stated they will narrow the award’s nominees to seven semifinalists this week on Jan. 22. They will then choose four finalists, which will be invited to attend an ESPN3 televised award presentation on January 27 at Houston’s Lone Star College.
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Marcus Matthews-Marion is the managing editor of TexasHSFootball, covering prep football throughout the Lone Star State and collegiate and professional football throughout the country. Follow him on Twitter, @TheMJMatthews, and read more of his content here.
