McPhee named to Lombardi Watch list
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State senior defensive lineman Pernell McPhee was named to the initial watch list for the Rotary Lombardi Award, given annually to the nation's top interior lineman.
McPhee, who started all 12 games in his first year as a Bulldog, led the team and finished among the leaders of the Southeastern Conference with 12 tackles for loss and five quarterback sacks. He also compiled 56 total tackles, four pass breakups and forced one fumble.
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The Pahokee, Fla., native earned SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors twice last season, and was selected to both the coaches and the Associated Press All-SEC Team.
The Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List will be updated prior to the start of the 2010 season in order to identify those players who have been selected as preseason honors candidates.
The Rotary Lombardi Selection Committee is comprised of more than 500 members, including all past winners and finalists, all Division 1-A head coaches and a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.
The Rotary Lombardi Watch List, intended as a reference tool for the Selection Committee, will be periodically updated and revised through the conclusion of the voting to determine the 12 Semifinalists for 2010.
Last year's Rotary Lombardi Award winner, Ndamukong Suh (Nebraska) was selected by the Detroit Lions and Finalist Gerald McCoy (OU) by Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the First Round of the NFL Draft.
The 41st Rotary Lombardi Award will be held December 7-8 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston. For more information on the two-day schedule of events, please visit www.rotarylombardiaward.org.