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PROVO, Utah (April 23, 2008) -- Here is some preseason football trivia. Name the two teams in all of college football that are tied with the most preseason candidates on the watchlist for the prestigious Rotary Lombardi Award.
Here are a few hints: it's not Florida, Georgia, Auburn, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Notre Dame, USC, UCLA, Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Florida State, or Miami (Fla.). In fact, the two teams do not come from the SEC, the Big 12, the Pac-10, the Big 10, the ACC or the Big East. (In case you're still wondering, it's neither TCU nor Utah.)
Here's your answer: the University of Hawai'i and BYU are the only two teams in the nation that have four—count them—four preseason candidates for the Rotary Lombardi Award. The award, presented annually by the Rotary Club of Houston, is given to the top, down lineman in the country, including players who line up within five yards of the football.
The winner of the award is selected by the Rotary Lombardi Selection Committee, which is comprised of more than 500 members, including all the past winners and finalists, all Division I head coaches and a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.
Adding to their growing list of preseason accolades, defensive end Jan Jorgensen, tight end Dennis Pitta and offensive linemen Ray Feinga and Dallas Reynolds have all been named to the preseason watchlist for the Rotary Lombardi Award.
#76 RAY FEINGA Offensive Line 6-5, 331, Sr. West Valley City, UT / Hunter HS SENIOR - (2008): A 2008 Outland Trophy, Rotary Lombardi Award and All-America candidate ... a 2008 Nationalchamps.net preseason honorable mention All-American. JUNIOR - (2007): Started 12 of 13 games at left guard for the Cougars ... earned letterman honors ... recorded over 70 knock-down blocks on the season ... did not allowed a single sack all season ... graded out at 82% or above in each of the 12 games he has played ... three times earned a grade of 90% or better during the season, including a 91% rating against Utah ... credited with a team-leading, season-high grade of 92% in the Cougars' 27-22 win over TCU ... helped anchor an offensive unit that led the Mountain West Conference and ranked 14th in the nation in passing offense, averaging 298.4 yards per game ... also led the MWC and ranked 25th in total offense, averaging 442.8 yards per game ... part of an offensive unit that helped the Cougars lead the Mountain West with an average 30.1 points per game ... part of a unit that averaged only 1.54 sacks per game.
#84 JAN JORGENSEN Defensive Line 6-3, 256, Jr. Helper, UT / Carbon HS JUNIOR - (2008): A 2008 All-America candidate ... named to the 2008 Rotary Lombardi Award and Lott Trophy watch lists ... a candidate for Defensive Player-of-the-Year and All-Mountain West Conference honors ... named to the NationalChamps.net Preseason All-America second team ... SOPHOMORE - (2007): Earned 2007 Academic All-Mountain West Conference honors ... received the Bart Oates Big Brother Award ... earned All-Mountain West Conference First Team honors ... lead the MWC and ranked 12th nationally with 20 tackles for a combined loss of 115 yards ... lead the MWC and ranked in the nation's top-10 in sacks, recording 14 on the season for a combined loss of 91 yards ... produced at least one sack in seven straight games to end the season, including two sacks in the Cougars' 17-16 win against UCLA ... recorded a career-high three sacks in the Cougars' 35-16 win against Colorado State ... totaled 77 tackles on the season, including 40 solo takedowns ... totaled a season-high 13 tackles in BYU's victory over Colorado State ... the anchor of a defensive line that allowed only one 100-yard rusher all season ... had a season-high five solo tackles in BYU's victory at San Diego State ... averaged 5.9 tackles and 1.1 sacks per game ... anchored a defensive unit that ranked 10th in the nation in total defense, allowing just 307.8 yards per game ... ranked ninth in rushing defense, allowing just 97.5 yards per game.
#32 DENNIS PITTA Tight End 6-5, 250, Jr. Moorpark, CA / Moorpark HS JUNIOR - (2008): A 2008 All-America, Rotary Lombardi Award and Mackey Award candidate ... a candidate for 2008 All-Mountain West Conference honors ... a 2008 Nationalchamps.net preseason honorable mention All-American. SOPHOMORE - (2007): Earned 2007 Academic All-Mountain West Conference honors ... a first-team All-Mountain West Conference selection ... finished the season as the fifth ranked tight end (second ranked sophomore), averaging 63 yards per game ... led all tight ends in the MWC (sixth overall) with 59 receptions on the season, averaged 4.5 per game ... recorded five touchdowns on the season, leading all MWC tight ends ... had two 100-yard receiving games on the season, including a season-high 114 yards against Air Force ... had four or more receptions in 11 of the Cougars' 13 games this season ... credited with 50 or more receiving yards in seven of the Cougars' 13 games ... had a career-long 45-yard receptions against Colorado State ... had a career-high seven receptions (vs. TCU).
#65 DALLAS REYNOLDS Offensive Line 6-5, 332, Sr. Provo, UT / Timpview HS SENIOR - (2008): A 2008 All-America, Outland Trophy and Rotary Lombardi Award candidate ... a candidate for 2008 All-Mountain West Conference honors ... named to the NationalChamps.net Preseason All-America second team ...
JUNIOR - (2007): Started all 13 games at left tackle ... has started 38 straight games, including 12 starts as a freshman and 13 starts last season as a sophomore ... recorded over 50 knock-down blocks on the season, including nine against Wyoming ... did not allowed a single sack against a MWC opponent ... recorded a season-high 94% grade against Air Force and a 91% grade in the Cougars' 35-10 win over Wyoming ... graded out with an 80% or better in each of the Cougars' 13 games on the season ... anchors an offensive line that has provided pass protection for the nation's 15th ranked offense ... part of an offensive unit that led the Mountain West Conference and ranked 14th in the nation in passing offense, averaging 298.4 yards per game ... also led the MWC and ranked 25th in total offense, averaging 442.8 yards per game ... part of an offensive unit that helped the Cougars lead the Mountain West with an average 30.1 points per game ... part of a unit that averaged only 1.54 sacks per game.
