Texas Tech junior quarterback Patrick Mahomes II was named Thursday to the Rotary Lombardi Award watch list, his eighth preseason recognition already this summer.
The Rotary Lombardi Award, now in its 47th year, recognizes the player who demonstrates outstanding performance and skill in offensive or defensive positions and best exemplifies the discipline, virtue and wisdom of the award’s namesake, Vincent Lombardi.
Mahomes is one of 158 candidates on the watch list which was compiled based off All-America and All-Conference honors from the 2015 season as well as 2016 preseason honors. This is the first season where the Lombardi Award has recognized all positions.
The award previously restricted its eligibility to only interior linemen (offensive or defensive guard) and later expanded to include linebackers and tight ends. All candidates must display non-performances values such as leadership, courage, desire, respect for authority and discipline.
In addition to the Lombardi Award, Mahomes is also a preseason candidate for the Earl Campbell, Johnny Unitas, Maxwell, Davey O’Brien and Manning Awards as well as the AFCA Good Works Team and the Wuerffel Trophy.
Mahomes surfaced as one of the top quarterbacks in college football in 2015 after recording over 5,000 yards of total offense. It marked the 13th time in NCAA FBS history where a quarterback has reached that mark while Mahomes was the youngest signal caller to ever post 5,000 yards of total offense.
His 4,653 passing yards mark the most for a returning quarterback nationally entering the 2016 season. Mahomes, who also rushed for another 456 yards on the ground, led the country in total offense per game (393.0) a year ago and also ranked fourth in passing yards per game (357.9).
Behind Mahomes, the Red Raiders averaged 45.1 poitns per game, the highest single-season clip in school history. Tech was the only school in a power-five conference (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, SEC) and one of just two nationally to score at least 25 points in every game of the season.
The Red Raiders open the 2016 season in just nine days as Tech hosts Stephen F. Austin on Sept. 3 inside Jones AT&T Stadium. Season tickets as well as single-game passes and mini-plans are still on sale and can be purchased online or by contacting the Texas Tech Ticket Office at 806-742-TECH.
(COURTESY: Texas Tech Sports Information Department)
