Hardy Nickerson, LB, Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List

Illinois senior linebacker Hardy Nickerson was named to the Rotary Lombardi Award watch list, it was announced Thursday. The watch list also includes Fighting Illini defensive end Dawuane Smoot among the top 158 players in the country.

The Rotary Lombardi Award

The Rotary Lombardi Award has been presented by the Rotary Club in Houston since 1970. It started as an honor for offensive or defensive linemen but now honors the top player in the nation. Non-performance values taken into consideration include leadership, courage, desire, respect for authority, and discipline.

» Last three winners: Carl Nassib (Penn State), Scooby Wright III (Arizona), Aaron Donald (Pitt)

Hardy Nickerson

• Senior linebacker from Oakland, Calif. (Bishop O'Dowd HS)
• Transferred to Illinois with one year of eligibility left
• Immediately eligible after graduating from California with a degree in legal studies
• Nagurski Trophy watch list (defensive player of the year)
• Father, Hardy Nickerson, is Illinois' defensive coordinator
• Three-year starter at California (2013-15)
• Cal team captain in 2015
• Played in 35 games during his career with the Golden Bears
• 246 tackles, 9.0 TFLs, one interception, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries during three seasons

Illini on 2016 Preseason Watch Lists (as of 8/24)

Wes Lunt – Maxwell Award (Off. POY), Davey O'Brien Award (QB), Unitas Golden Arm Award (QB), Manning Award (QB)
Hardy Nickerson – Nagurski Trophy (Def. POY), Butkus Award (LB), Rotary Lombardi Award (POY)
Dawuane Smoot – Bednarik Award (Def. POY), Hendricks Award (DE), Rotary Lombardi Award (POY)
Joe Spencer – Rimington Trophy (C), Wuerffel Trophy (Community Service)
Ke'Shawn Vaughn – Doak Walker (RB)