I-A: non-BCS TCU defensive end Tommy Blake has been named to the preseason Watch List for the 2006 Lott Trophy.
Named after USC All-American and NFL Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, the Lott Trophy is the only college football award that recognizes the personal character and leadership qualities of each candidate as well as their on-field football performance.
The last two recipients of the Lott Trophy have been David Pollack of Georgia and DeMeco Ryans of Alabama.
Blake, along with Horned Frog teammates Chase Ortiz and Herb Taylor, was tabbed last week as a candidate for the Lombardi Award. TCU and USC were the only schools in the nation to have three players named to the Lombardi Award Watch List.
Blake was named the 2005 Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year by CollegeFootballNews.com in addition to being a Sophomore All-American. The rising junior from Aransas Pass, Texas, was also a first-team All-Mountain West Conference selection. His seven sacks were second in the league behind only Ortiz. Blake placed third in the MWC with 13 1/2 tackles for a loss.
Blake led all TCU defensive linemen with 57 stops, including 40 solo. The Frogs closed last season ranked ninth by USA Today and 11th in the Associated Press poll. TCU, which opens the 2006 campaign Sept. 2 at Baylor, has won 10 in a row for the nation's second-longest current winning streak. © Copyright 1997-2004 by I-AA.com and College Football Annual Advantage; Lakeland, Florida USA For permission to reprint or for more information, please phone 863.604.5962 |