Penn State’s Nassib up for more football honors
Penn State’s Carl Nassib continues to rack up the accolades for his performance this season.
The senior defensive end has been named one of the four finalists for the Rotary Lombardi Award, awarded to the nation’s top college lineman (offensive or defensive). Nassib was also named one of 10 semifinalists for the Burlsworth Trophy, given to the most outstanding player in the nation who began his career as a walk-on.
Nassib is the first Nittany Lion to be named a finalist for the Lombardi Award since Paul Posluszny in 2005 and 2006. The only Nittany Lion to receive the award was Bruce Clark, who won it in 1978.
Nassib and fellow finalists Joey Bosa, of Ohio State, Texas A&M’s Garrett Myles and Clemson’s Shaq Lawson will be honored at an awards banquet in Houston on Dec. 9.
Penn State’s only winner of the Burlsworth Trophy was Matt McGloin, who received the honor in 2012.
The award is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth, who, without a Division I scholarship, walked on to the Arkansas Razorbacks in 1994, working his way to being a three-year starter and an All-American in 1998. Burlsworth was selected 63rd overall by the Indianapolis Colts in the 1999 NFL draft, but was killed in a car accident 11 days later.
Fans will be able to vote for their favorite player through the “greater” fan vote, which opened Tuesday. Fans are limited to one vote per day, and the voting period closes Sunday. After voting closes, the top three finalists will be announced on Nov. 24. Finalists will be honored and the winner will be announced Dec. 7 at a banquet in Springdale, Ark., sponsored by the Springdale Rotary Club.
Nassib ranks first in the FBS in sacks with 15 1/2, tackles for loss with 19 1/2, and forced fumbles with six. His sack total has set the Nittany Lions’ single-season record, edging past the 15 put up by Larry Kubin in 1979 and Michael Haynes in 2002, while his six forced fumbles is one off the school record of seven set by Haynes in 2002.
This story was originally published November 18, 2015 at 12:43 PM with the headline "Penn State’s Nassib up for more football honors."