University of Arkansas center Jonathan Luigs is the recipient of the
2007 Rimington Trophy, given annually to the nation's most outstanding
center in college football. The announcement was made today by the
Rimington committee.
Luigs will be recognized as the winner at The Home Depot College
Football Awards show, broadcast live on ESPN, in Orlando, Florida on
December 6, 2007. The annual Rimington Trophy awards banquet will be
held at the Rococo Theatre in Lincoln, Nebraska on January 12, 2008.
"This is a tremendous eye opener for me especially when I look at
the history of the trophy and the distinguished lists of winners. It is
an honor to be mentioned in the same circle and even bigger honor to
recieve the trophy," said Jonathan Luigs.
Luigs is the centerpiece of a University of Arkansas offensive line
that has cleared the way for the SEC's top rushing attack (296.8 yards
per game) which ranks third in the nation. The junior is riding a
streak of 28 consecutive starts at center for the Razorbacks and leads
the offensive line with a 90.4 percent grade average including
team-leading averages in run (86.1 percent) and pass (96.9 percent)
blocking.
"It is an honor to name Jonathan as the winner of the 2007 Riminton
Trophy. He and the Razorbacks played a great season. To compete at the
level Jonathan did against such a tough SEC defense, it is a testament
to the strength and skill that makes him the top collegiate center.
Congratulations to all the watch list candidates, finalists and
Jonathan," added Dave Rimington.
Luigs will line up against Rimington Trophy finalist Adam Spieker
and the Missouri Tigers in the 2008 AT&T Cotton Bowl which will
take place on January 1, 2008 in Dallas, Texas.
About the Rimington Trophy
The eight-year old trophy is presented by Canon and The Cornhusker
Marriott. The award is presented by the Boomer Esiason Foundation.
Esiason created his foundation in 1993 to support research and
treatment of cystic fibrosis. Esiason and Dave Rimington were teammates
on the Cincinnati Bengals from 1984-87. Rimington, the award's
namesake, was a consensus first team All- America center at Nebraska in
1981 and 1982 during which he became the John Outland Trophy's only
double winner as the nation's premiere college interior lineman.
Past recipients include Dominic Raiola (Nebraska. 2000), LeCharles
Bentley (Ohio State, 2001), Brett Romberg (Miami, 2002), Jake Grove
(Virginia Tech, 2003), co- winners David Baas (Michigan, 2004) and Ben
Wilkerson (LSU, 2004), Greg Eslinger (Minnesota, 2005) and Dan Mozes
(West Virginia, 2006). Since its inception the Rimington Trophy Award
has raised over $1.03 million for its benefactor, the Cystic Fibrosis
Foundation. It, in turn, is hosted by the Boomer Esiason Foundation
which, to date, has raised nearly $60 million for Cystic Fibrosis
research.
The Rimington Trophy is a fully accredited member of the National College Football Awards Association.