Nov. 17, 2015
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Senior defensive end Carl Nassib (West Chester, Pa.) is one of four finalists for the Rotary Lombardi Award for the Nation's Top College Lineman (offensive or defensive). He is the first finalists from Penn State since Paul Posluszny was a finalist in 2005 and 2006. Nassib and the other finalists will be honored at an awards banquet in Houston on Wednesday, Dec. 9.
The Lombardi Award is given annually to the nation's top offensive or defensive lineman or linebacker who, in addition to outstanding performance, best exemplifies the discipline of Vince Lombardi. Bruce Clark is Penn State's lone Lombardi Award winner, claiming the award in 1978.
In addition to Nassib, Ohio State's Joey Bosa, Texas A&M's Garrett Myles and Clemson's Shaq Lawson are also finalists.
Nassib sprung onto the national scene this year and leads FBS in sacks (15.5), tackles for loss (19.5) and forced fumbles (6). He has recorded a sack in each game this season and five multi-sack games. With one sack at Northwestern, Nassib broke the Penn State single-seaosn sacks record by upping his total to 15.5. He surpasses the mark of 15 sacks set by Larry Kubin (1979) and Michael Haynes (2002).
Additionally, Nassib's six forced fumbles this season are the most by a Penn State player since Haynes had a school-record seven in the 2002. Nassib is the first Penn State player to force two fumbles in two games in a season since Maurice Evans did it in 2007. Evans had two forced fumbles against Indiana and two forced fumbles against Texas A&M in the Alamo Bowl.
The West Chester, Pennsylvania native was recently named a semifinalist for the Bednarik Award for the nation's Defensive Player of the Year and the Rotary Lombardi Award for the Nation's Top College Lineman (offensive or defensive). Additionally, he is a candidate for the Burlsworth Trophy for the nation's top player that started his career as a walk-on. He was also a midseason All-America choice by SI.com, ESPN.com, USAToday.com and CBS Sports.
One of the few remaining stand-alone NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision collegiate awards, each year the four finalists of the Rotary Lombardi Award travel to Houston for the presentation. While in the community, finalists will make a stop at Texas Children's Hospital and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to visit the Front Line Kids, children who are fighting cancer locally in the Houston Medical Center. Since the award's inception, millions have been raised to help fund cancer research, public education and direct services to cancer patients.
For over forty-five years, the award has been presented annually to the nation's best Division I college football lineman (offense or defense) who, in addition to outstanding performance and ability, best exemplifies the discipline of Vince Lombardi. Head coaches of NCAA FBS teams, all former winners and finalists of the Lombardi Award, and selected members of the media make up the electorate that decides the award winner.
The Rotary Lombardi Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). The NCFAA was founded in 1997 as a coalition of the major collegiate football awards to protect, preserve and enhance the integrity, influence and prestige of the game's predominant awards. The NCFAA encourages professionalism and the highest standards for the administration of its member awards and the selection of their candidates and recipients. For more information, visit the association's official website, ncfaa.org.
Tickets for the Nittany Lions' Senior Day and Penn State White Out game against Michigan on Nov. 21. To purchase tickets or for more information, fans can visit PSUnrivaled.com, call 1-800-NITTANY or visit the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office weekdays from 10 a.m-6 p.m.
The Penn State residence halls will remain open until Sunday at 10 a.m. to allow all students an opportunity to attend the football game heading into the week long Thanksgiving break from classes.