Ekwonu and Gibson Named to Lombardi Award Watch List

RALEIGH, N.C. - Fifth-year center Grant Gibson and third-year offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu have both been named to the preseason watch list for the Rotary Lombardi Award. The Rotary Lombardi Award goes annually to the college football offensive or defensive lineman, who in addition to outstanding performance and ability, best exemplifies the character and discipline of NFL Hall of Fame Head Coach Vince Lombardi.

Gibson, who has also been named to the watch lists for the Rimington and Outland Trophies, returns for his third season as the Wolfpack's starting center this season. A team captain last season, he was recently named the third-best returning interior offensive lineman in the country by ESPN and is a second-team preseason All-American according to Sporting News and PFF.

Gibson allowed just four pressures on 443 pass block snaps in 2020. The only center in the ACC with a better mark played half as many snaps and was ranked as the ninth-best center nationally by Pro Football Focus following the 2020 season.

Ekwonu, tabbed "the most feared lineman in the ACC" by The Athletic, is also on the preseason list for the Outland Trophy. He was rated as the second-best offensive lineman in the country according to PFF and was named a third-team preseason All-American according to Athlon, which also gave him a first-team All-ACC nod for the preseason. He has been named one of the top 10 returning offensive tackles in the country by ESPN after leading the team in pancake blocks each of the past two seasons.

Ekwonu and Gibson Named to Lombardi Award Watch List

Players Mentioned

Ikem Ekwonu

Grant Gibson

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