May 30, 2018
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Junior offensive lineman Connor McGovern (Larksville, Pa.) is among the candidates on the preseason watch list for the Rimington Trophy for the nation's most outstanding center.
The Rimington Trophy is given annually to the most outstanding center. The award is named for former University of Nebraska standout Dave Rimington and benefits the Boomer Esiason Foundation for cystic fibrosis. A.Q. Shipley is Penn State's lone Rimington Trophy winner in 2008.
McGovern moved from guard to center prior to the 2017 season. He was the keystone for a line which helped the offense that finished seventh in FBS in scoring offense (41.1) and 19th in total offense (460.3). The Nittany Lions broke the Penn State record for points scored (534) and finished second in program history in yards per play (6.58) and total offense yards (5984).
The native of Larksville, Pennsylvania, blocked for 2017 Paul Hornung Award winner and fourth-place Heisman Trophy finisher Saquon Barkley and All-Big Ten second team quarterback Trace McSorley. Barkley and McSorley posted back-to-back seasons with 1,000 rushing yards and 3,000 passing yards, respectively, becoming the first tandem in Big Ten history to accomplish the feat in consecutive seasons.
About the Rimington Trophy
The Rimington Trophy is presented annually to the most outstanding center in NCAA Division I College Football. Since its inception, the 17-year old award has raised over $3.6 million for the Boomer Esiason Foundation, which is committed to finding a cure for cystic fibrosis.
Dave Rimington, the award's namesake, was a consensus first-team All-America center at the University of Nebraska in 1981 and 1982, during which time he became the John Outland Trophy's only two-time winner as the nation's finest college interior lineman. For more on the Rimington Trophy and a list of past recipients, visit www.rimingtontrophy.com.
Penn State returns 13 starters (8 offensive, 3 defensive, 2 specialists) and 26 additional lettermen. The Nittany Lions open the season at Beaver Stadium against Appalachian State September 1.
More than 6,300 new season tickets have been sold for the 2018 season presented by PSECU. For information on joining the Nittany Lion Club, as well as club seating in Beaver Stadium, fans can visit www.PSUnrivaled.com, call 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. or visit the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office weekdays from 10 a.m-6 p.m.