Travis Normand
January 15, 2018

Apparently the following information was released back in October but I had completely missed it and did not receive a press release about it (until today, January 15, 2018). As I previously posted, the Rotary Club of Houston announced that they would not be giving out the 48th annual Lombardi Award despite having presented the previous 47 awards. You can read the Rotary Club of Houston’s press release here on OnePointSafety.com, or on their site at LombardiAward.org.

Today I received a press release in my email announcing that the award would be given out on January 27, 2018. However, it will now be awarded by the Lombardi Foundation (click here to read the October 2017 press release).

A few notable differences between the October 2017 release, and the release I received via email today, are: (1) the location of the event will be held at Lone Star College (in Houston) as opposed to the Hobby Center, and (2) the second release contains a list of award nominees.

The list of nominees are:

• Saquon Barkley, Penn State (RB)
• Lamar Jackson, Louisville (QB)
• Ed Oliver, Houston (DT)
• J.T. Barrett, Ohio State (QB)
• Derwin James, Florida State (S)
• Da’Ron Payne, Alabama (DT)
• Bradley Chubb, N.C. State (DE)
• Joel Lanning, Iowa State (LB/QB)
• Rashaad Penny, San Diego State (RB)
• Tyrell Crosby, Oregon (OT)
• Bryce Love, Stanford (RB)
• Roquan Smith, Georgia (LB)
• DeShon Elliott, Texas (S)
• Hercules Mata’afa, Washington State (DE)
• Vita Vea, Washington (DT)
• Minkah Fitzpatick, Alabama (S)
• Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (QB)
• James Washington, Oklahoma State (WR)
• Shaquem Griffin, UCF (LB)
• Quenton Nelson, Notre Dame (G)
• Christian Wilkins, Clemson (DT)

The release also states that: (Emphasis added)

Up to seven finalists from this list will be selected by the award voters this week and announced next Monday, Jan. 22. Four of the finalists will be invited to the Lombardi Honors presentation that will include several other awards being recognized, including the Lombardi Coach of the Year.

For a copy of the October 2017 release, visit: https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2017/10/26/1154553/0/en/LOMBARDI-AWARD-UNDER-NEW-DIRECTION-2018-EVENT-DATE-SET.html

If I find a copy of the January 2018 release online, I will post it here later.