UCLA Center Jake Brendel Named to Rimington Trophy Watch List

You know football season is right around the corner when the award watch lists start coming out.

Today, the Rimington Trophy, which is presented annually to the Most Outstanding Center in NCAA Division I-A College Football, announced its watch list and Bruin center "Coach" Jake Brendel was named to it.

Personally, I can't think of a more deserving center in the country, but, unfortunately, I don't get to vote on this or any other award.

As you may be aware, Coach Jake earned that nickname because of his leadership during Spring Practice this year while UCLA Offensive Line coach Adrian Klemm was suspended. Jake really stepped up to help the entire offensive line grow and develop.

Since its inception, the Rimington Trophy has raised over $2.6 million for the cystic fibrosis community. The award is overseen by the Boomer Esiason Foundation, which is committed to finding a cure for cystic fibrosis and has raised over $115 million for CF Research.

Dave Rimington, the award's namesake, was a consensus first-team All-America center at the University of Nebraska in 1981 and 1982, during which time he became the John Outland Trophy's only double winner as the nation's finest college interior lineman.

The Rimington Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football and it will be presented at the National College Football Awards Association ceremony on December 10th at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta with the ceremony airing on ESPN.