UCLA’s Brian Price among early Lombardi Award candidates

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UCLA junior defensive tackle Brian Price was named to the Lombardi Award ‘preliminary’ watch list today.

The trophy is presented annually to the nation’s top lineman on either offense or defense (which can include linebackers who line up within five yards of the ball), making it the only award open to all college linemen.

Price led the Bruins with 14 tackles for loss in 2008 and will receive a lot of attention this season after the graduation of Brigham Harwell.

Candidates claimed spots on the preliminary watch list by earning All-American honors or by being named to an all-conference first team as selected by conference coaches. Other nominees from the Pacific 10 include Arizona State defensive end Alex Carrington, Arizona tight end Rob Gronkowski and USC center Kristofer O’Dowd.

The 40th Rotary Lombardi Award dinner will be held in Houston in December. For the entire watch list, click here.

-- Adam Rose