Two Cyclones, one Hawkeye on massive Lombardi Award list

This is the longest watch list I've ever seen.

Iowa offensive tackle Riley Reiff is on it. So is Iowa State offensive tackle Keleche Osemele and linebacker Jake Knott (130 tackles last season).

Maybe this is why this list is so long: "Eligibility for the Rotary Lombardi Award is limited to down linemen, end-to-end, either on offense of defense, who set up no farther than 10 yards to the left or right of the ball, and linebackers who set up no farther than five yards deep from the line of scrimmage."

Crazy. I guess that leaves out skill positions?

Still, this remains one of college football's biggies in my opinion.

Here are the details:

2011 Rotary Lombardi Award Official Watch List

Houston, Texas – July 12, 2011 – The Rotary Lombardi Award Committee has released the Official Watch List for the 2011 Rotary Lombardi Award. This is the 42nd year that the Rotary Lombardi Award has named the nation's college lineman of the year.

Eligibility for the Rotary Lombardi Award is limited to down linemen, end-to-end, either on offense of defense, who set up no farther than 10 yards to the left or right of the ball, and linebackers who set up no farther than five yards deep from the line of scrimmage. All candidates also must be eligible to play college sports under the rules and regulations of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

The candidates earned a place on the Official Watch List by earning All-American honors last season, by being named to their respective all-conference first team last season as selected by the conference's head coaches, by being projected to be an All-American or first team all-conference player for the coming season, or by nomination approved by the nominations committee.

While the Watch List highlights those players who have already received national recognition, any Division IA player who meets the above requirements is eligible for consideration from the Rotary Lombardi Award Selection Committee. This committee is comprised of more than 500 members, including all past winners and finalists, all Division IA head coaches, and a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.

The Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List, intended as a reference tool for the Selection Committee, will be periodically updated and revised up to the first round of voting to determine the 12 Semifinalists for 2010.

Last year's Rotary Lombardi Award winner, Nick Fairley (Auburn), was drafted by the Detroit Lions and Finalist Adrian Clayborn (Iowa) was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, both in the first round of the National Football League draft.

The 42nd Rotary Lombardi Award will be held on December 6-7, 2011 at Reliant Center in Houston, Texas. For more information on the two-day schedule of events and ticket opportunities, please visit www.rotarylombardiaward.org.

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From UI sports info:

REIFF NAMED TO ROTARY LOMBARDI AWARD WATCH LIST

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Junior offensive lineman Riley Reiff has been named to the Rotary Lombardi Award watch list. This is the 42nd year the award has named the nation's college lineman of the year.

Reiff (6-6, 300) has been named a preseason All-American by four media outlets and has been named to the Outland Trophy (nation's best interior lineman) watch list. He was No. 49 on the Rivals.com Top 100 Players Countdown. Reiff was one of five linemen nationwide selected to the Playboy magazine All-America team. The Parkston, S.D., native was also named a second-team preseason All-American by Consensus Draft Services (CDS) and third-team All-American by Phil Steele and Athlon Sports. Reiff was a first-team All-Big Ten preseason pick by Lindy's and Athlon Sports. He started all 13 games for the Hawkeyes in 2010 and earned second-team All-Big Ten honors.

Former Hawkeye defensive end and 2011 NFL first round pick Adrian Clayborn was a finalist for the award last year.

The 42nd Rotary Lombardi Award will be held Dec. 6-7, 2011 at Reliant Center in Houston, Texas.

Iowa opens its 2011 season against Tennessee Tech on Sept. 3 at Kinnick Stadium. Kickoff is 11 a.m. (BTN HD).