Christian Wilkins nominated for 2017 Lombardi Award

by Press Release - Mon Jan 15 15:13:37 GMT-04:00 2018

HOUSTON (Jan. 15) – The Houston-based Lombardi Foundation is proud to announce 21 candidates for the 2017 Lombardi Award, to be presented to an NCAA Division I player, regardless of position, based on performance, leadership, character and resiliency. The presentation will take place on Saturday, Jan. 27, in Houston at Lone Star College and will be televised locally on ABC’s KTRK and nationally on ESPN3. At that time, the new Lombardi Award trophy, crafted by renowned sculptor Edd Hayes, will be unveiled.

The nominee list is led by teammates from the recently-crowned national champion Alabama Crimson Tide, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and defensive tackle Da’Ron Payne. Payne was the most outstanding defensive player in both the College Football Playoff National Semifinal (Allstate Sugar Bowl) and the National Championship game while Fitzpatrick was named a consensus All-American. Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith, Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield and Clemson defensive tackle Christian Wilkins are also nominees who played in the College Football Playoff. Overall, nine offensive players and 10 defensive players, along with one two-way player, were named to the nominee list.

Following is the complete list of nominees for the 2017 Lombardi Award:

Saquon Barkley, Penn State (RB) Lamar Jackson, Louisville (QB) Ed Oliver, Houston (DT) J.T. Barrett, Ohio State (QB) Derwin James, Florida State (S) Da’Ron Payne, Alabama (DT) Bradley Chubb, N.C. State (DE) Joel Lanning, Iowa State (LB/QB) Rashaad Penny, San Diego State (RB) Tyrell Crosby, Oregon (OT) Bryce Love, Stanford (RB) Roquan Smith, Georgia (LB) DeShon Elliott, Texas (S) Hercules Mata’afa, Washington State (DE) Vita Vea, Washington (DT) Minkah Fitzpatick, Alabama (S) Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (QB) James Washington, Oklahoma State (WR) Shaquem Griffin, UCF (LB) Quenton Nelson, Notre Dame (G) Christian Wilkins, Clemson (DT)

Up to seven finalists from this list will be selected by the award voters this week and announced next Monday, Jan. 22. Four of the finalists will be invited to the Lombardi Honors presentation that will include several other awards being recognized, including the Lombardi Coach of the Year. Last season, Alabama defensive end Jonathan Allen won the Lombardi Award and Clemson’s Dabo Swinney was the Lombardi Coach of the Year.

The event will also include the induction of a college football icon into the Lombardi Hall of Fame, as well as honor a legendary collegiate coach, broadcaster and humanitarian. Roger Staubach will announce the newest member of the Lombardi Hall of Fame, who will join Jerry Kramer, Anthony Muñoz and Joe Moglia. Pro Football Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott will announce the recipient of the Legendary Coach Award, who will join Tom Osborne, LaVell Edwards and Lou Holtz as a recipient.

The Lombardi Humanitarian Award will be presented to Greg Headington and the Headington family, while Lombardi fellows Lott, Hall of Fame broadcaster Lesley Visser, Houston Mayor Hon. Sylvester Turner, Grammy-winning gospel singer and Houston resident Yolanda Adams, sportswriter John McClain of the Houston Chronicle and astronaut Commander Randy Bresnik, who has just returned from 139 days on the International Space Station, will also be recognized.

Vince Lombardi has been the namesake of the Lombardi Award since 1970. Over those past five decades, his name has been associated with a premier college football award, a landmark event in Houston, and a generous contributor to cancer hospitals and patient care. Now, under the direction of the Lombardi Foundation, Lombardi Honors is presenting the most significant tribute in college football, growing the event, while continuing to create awareness and funding for cancer initiatives.

“It is my great honor to serve the Lombardi family and the college football community, while honoring the next generation of American leaders,” said Rick Slemaker, the chairman of the Lombardi Foundation. “Leadership is what we now honor with the award named after one of America’s most acclaimed leaders, Vince Lombardi. Today, leadership is the attribute in greatest demand, yet shortest supply and the foundation looks forward to honoring a deserving player at the new Lombardi Honors.”

Proceeds from the event will go to organizations that support cancer research and treatment including Texas Children’s Cancer Center, MD Anderson Cancer Center and Harris Health Cancer Treatment Centers.

For more information about the Lombardi Honors, contact RoShelle Salinas at roshelle@salinassolutions.com or 281-509-1682