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.
| 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 |
