NEW YORK, NY – LSU senior Ethan Pocic was named as one of three finalists for the 2016 Rimington Trophy it was announced Monday, which is awarded to the nation’s most outstanding center in college football.
Pocic, a native of Lemont, Illinois, has been named to the watch list for the award each of the last two seasons, making the cut from the 61 named in July to one of the three remaining for the trophy this season. Pocic was also a semifinalist for the Outland Trophy as well this year.
As one of the top offensive linemen in LSU’s history, Pocic started all 11 games for the Tigers in 2016, with 10 starts coming at center and one at right tackle. He led all LSU offensive linemen in total snaps played (680), knockdowns (92), and “great effort” plays (33). He had double-digit knockdown blocks in four games, including having a season-high 14 knockdowns in a win over Texas A&M, allowing just one sack all season.
Because of his exemplary play, Pocic earned the SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week honor three times in wins against Missouri, Ole Miss, and Arkansas. With Pocic at center, the LSU offense averaged 238.1 rushing yards per game and allowed only 18 sacks all season, the second-lowest total in the SEC. LSU running backs also had record games as Leonard Fournette rushed for 284 yards against the Rebels, while Derrius Guice ran for 252 against Arkansas and 285 in the season finale at Texas A&M to set a new single-game school record.
“Ethan Pocic is an amazing young man. He is attentive to detail, driven toward success, passionate about the game of football and ferocious when he snaps his chin strap. He is bright, coachable and fearless,” LSU Offensive Line Coach/Running Game Coordinator Jeff Grimes said. “In 24 years of coaching, I have never coached a young man who prepared better, cared more or worked harder. He is deserving of any award that might be given to him for the way in which he played the game his senior season.”
The Rimington Trophy committee will determine the winner based on the All-America selection made by the Walter Camp Foundation, Sporting News and Football Writers Association of America. The center with the most first-team votes will be selected as the winner.
The winner of the Rimington Trophy will be presented live during the ESPNU Red Carpet Show on Thursday, December 8, 2016, immediately preceding the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show. Both shows, will originate from the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia.
The winner will be recognized at the Rimington Trophy Presentation at the Rococo Theatre in Lincoln, Nebraska on Saturday, January 14, 2017.
LSU takes on the Louisville Cardinals on December 31 at 10 a.m. CT in the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.
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