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Jeff Allen was named to the Rotary Lombardi Award watch list Tuesday.
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July 12, 2011
Complete 2011 Rotary Lombardi Award watch list
HOUSTON - University of Illinois senior tackle Jeff Allen was named to the preseason watch list for the Rotary Lombardi Award Tuesday, an honor given annually to the top lineman in college football. The award is limited to down linemen, end-to-end, on offense or defense, who set up no farther than 10 yards to the left or right of the ball, and linebackers who set up no farther than five yards from the line of scrimmage.
It is the second preseason watch list that Allen has been named to after being listed on the Outland Trophy (top interior lineman) watch list last week. Allen also was named to the preseason All-Big Ten first team by both Athlon and Phil Steele, and the preseason All-Big Ten second team by Lindy's.
Allen helped pave the way for the top rushing offense in the Big Ten and 11th-best in the nation (246.1 ypg) during the 2010 season. The Illini offense broke records for points in a season (423) and points per game (32.54). Seeing time in all 13 games on the season, Allen helped Illinois produce the second-most rushing yards (3,199) and fourth-most total yards (5,162) in school history. In addition, running back Mikel Leshoure broke the single-season rushing record (1,697 yards) behind Allen and the rest of the Illini offensive line in 2010.
Candidates were named to the watch list by earning All-America or all-conference honors in 2010, by being projected to be an All-American or first-team all-conference player for 2011 or by nomination approved by the nominations committee.
Nick Fairley of Auburn was the 2010 winner of the Rotary Lombardi Award, which is in its 42nd year of honoring the nation's college lineman of the year.
The award is hosted by the Rotary Club of Houston and benefits the American Cancer Society. It is named for Vince Lombardi, the legendary Green Bay Packers head coach.
For more information on the Rotary Lombardi Award and to follow the season progress, please click here.
ILLINI ON 2011 PRESEASON WATCH LISTS (through July 12):
Jeff Allen: Outland Trophy (Interior Line), Rotary Lombardi (College Lineman of the Year)
Derek Dimke: Groza Award (PK), College Football Performance Awards (PK and KOS)
A.J. Jenkins: Biletnikoff Award (WR)
Nathan Scheelhaase: Maxwell Award (Best Overall Player), College Football Performance Awards (QB)
Akeem Spence: Bronko Nagurski Trophy (Best Defensive Player), Outland Trophy (Interior Line)
