RENO, Nev. – Nevada defensive end Brock Hekking has been named to the 2014 Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List, the Rotary Lombardi Award committee announced today.
Hekking, a 6-foot-4, 255-pound senior from Vacaville, Calif., is a two-time All-Mountain West honoree. He is seventh among returning players in career sacks with 17.0. Entering his senior season, he ranks eighth (tackles for loss, 24.5) and sixth (sacks, 17.0) on Nevada’s career charts.
Eligibility for the Rotary Lombardi Award is limited to down linemen, end-to-end, either on offense or defense, who set up no farther than 10 yards to the left or right of the ball, or linebackers who set up no farther than five yards deep from the line of scrimmage. The candidates earned a place on the preliminary watch list by earning All-American honors, being named to their respective all-conference teams or receiving 2014 pre-season honors. The Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List will be updated prior to the start of the 2014 season in order to identify other players who have received significant pre-season honors.
Hekking is one of 11 Mountain West players on the initial watch list. He earned first-team All-MW accolades in 2013 and second-team honors as a sophomore in 2012.
While the Watch List highlights those players who have already received national recognition, any Division 1 player who meets the requirements is eligible for consideration from the Rotary Lombardi Selection Committee. This committee is comprised of more than 300 members, including all past winners and finalists, all Division 1 head coaches and a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.
The Rotary Lombardi Watch List, intended as a reference tool for the Selection Committee, will be periodically updated and revised through the conclusion of the voting to determine the 12 Semifinalists for 2014.
The 45th Rotary Lombardi Award will be held on Wednesday, December 10, 2014 at the Bayou Music Center in Houston, Texas. For more information, visitwww.rotarylombardiaward.org.
