Fresno State Athletics
Wendell Named To Rimington Watch List
5/2/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
May 2, 2007
FRESNO, Calif. - Ryan Wendell has won several accolades in his Fresno State football career, but none would be more impressive or meaningful for the senior center than the Rimington Award.
The eight year old trophy is presented by Canon, Cornhusker Marriott, and Logitech. The award is hosted by the Boomer Esiason Foundation. West Virginia's Dan Mozes, Minnesota's Greg Eslinger, Michigan's David Baas (2004 co-winner), LSU's Ben Wilkerson (2004 co-winner), Virginia Tech's Jake Grove, Miami's Brett Romberg, Ohio State's LeCharles Bentley, and Nebraska's Dominic Raiola are past recipients. Esiason created his foundation in 1993 to support research and treatment of cystic fibrosis. Esiason and Dave Rimington were teammates on the Cincinnati Bengals from 1984-87. Rimington, the award's namesake, was a consensus first team All- America center at Nebraska in 1981 and 1982 during which he became the John Outland Trophy's only double winner as the nation's premiere college interior lineman.
"With only one returning finalist (Jonathan Luigs, Arkansas) from last season the competition will be wide open which will certainly make for an exciting race. Center is a very difficult position to evaluate and of course play so I wish all of the candidates and their respective teams a successful season", said Dave Rimington.
The winner is selected by determining the consensus All-America Center pick from four existing All- America Teams: American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp Foundation, Sporting News, and Football Writers Association of America.
"Ryan is an outstanding football player," said head coach Pat Hill. "He's the kind of player you love to have on your team. He's a leader, he's an excellent student, he works hard in all areas. He's a talented guy and certainly deserving of any awards he gets."
Wendell enters his second season playing center for the Bulldogs. Last season, he started eight games at left guard before moving to center for the final four games of the season. He led a Bulldog offensive line that set a school record for fewest sacks allowed, 12, and opened holes for one of the nation's premier running backs, Dwayne Wright, a fourth-round draft pick of the Buffalo Bills. Over the last two seasons, Fresno State has allowed just 25 sacks.
As a true freshman in 2004, Wendell earned first-team Freshman All-America honors and was named the WAC Freshman of the Year. He became just the second offensive lineman in league history to win that honor.
A three-time Academic All-WAC selection, Wendell has started 35 consecutive games and been a part of a line that has produced three consecutive 1,000-yard running backs, and in 2004 and 2005, the Bulldog offense was ranked in the Top 10 nationally for scoring. In 2005, the Fresno State offense produced a 3,000-yard passer (Paul Pinegar) and a back (Wendell Mathis) that rusher for more than 1,000 yards.
"I'm thrilled and honored to be associated with the Rimington Award," said Wendell. "Dave Rimington is a legend and an idol for offensive linemen. There have been some outstanding players who've won this award over the years and I'm flattered to be considered a candidate."
The winner will be honored at an awards banquet at the Rococo Theater in Lincoln, Nebraska in January of 2008.
