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Three More Tigers Land On National Award Watch Lists 8/26/08

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murfb.jpegMEMPHIS, TENN. - Three more Memphis Tigers are receiving recognition on national award watch lists, including the Rotary Lombardi Award and the Lou Groza Award.

Senior defensive lineman Clinton McDonald and senior offensive lineman Brandon Pearce are both on the Lombardi Award Watch List, while junior kicker Matt Reagan is again on the preseason Lou Groza Award Watch List. These three Tigers join center Philip Beliles who was announced as a member of the Rimington Trophy Watch List last week.

The 39th annual Rotary Lombardi Award, presented by Wachovia, honoring the top lineman in the Football Bowl Subdivision and benefiting the American Cancer Society, will be presented in Houston on Dec. 10. Down lineman on either side of the ball, including tight ends, and linebackers who line up within five yards of the ball are eligible for consideration from the Rotary Lombardi Selection Committee. This committee is comprised of more than 500 members, including all past winners and finalists, all Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.

McDonald, a native of Jacksonville, Ark., was selected as a permanent captain last season as a junior. He started all 13 games on the defensive front, and has played in 37 straight games. In 2007, he led the team in TFL with 9.5 for minus 31 yards. He also registered a team-high four sacks for minus 22 yards and ranked fifth on the team in tackles with 55.
Pearce, a native Memphian, was named to the All-C-USA Preseason team by league coaches this summer. He was part of an offensive line that led C-USA in fewest sacks allowed with 14 for the fourth-straight year and ranked 10th nationally, while also paving the way for a Tiger offense that ranked 13th nationally in passing offense and 23rd in total offense. He started all 13 games at right tackle in 2007, and has started 33 of his 36 career games for the Tigers.

The Lou Groza Award, which is sponsored by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission, is presented to the nation’s top kicker. The 30 kickers on the Lou Groza Award Watch List were chosen based on statistics from the 2007 season and 2008 preseason expectations. Weekly, beginning Sept. 8, the award recognizes the three outstanding kickers of the week based on the previous week’s play.

Accomplishments are tabulated throughout the season and the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award announces its 20 semi-finalists on Nov. 11. From this list, a panel of over 300 experts selects the top three finalists for the award by Nov. 26. That same group then selects the national winner which will be announced on Dec. 11 during the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show broadcast live from Orlando.

Reagan, of Knoxville, Tenn., was twice named the Conference USA Special Teams Player of the Week in 2007. He led the Tigers in scoring with 80 points, and averaged 6.2 points per game. For the year, he hit 15 of his 22 field goal attempts and converted 35 of his 38 PATs. He finished the season ranked fourth in C-USA in field goals made per game and ninth in scoring by kickers. Reagan, who hit multiple field goals in four games, finished the season tied for 60th nationally in field goals. In just two seasons in a Tiger uniform, Reagan ranks 13th all-time in scoring with 141 points.

Posted by rakuette | Filed under Football