July 15, 2011 — Coral Gables — Miami Hurricanes student-athletes Marcus Forston, Sean Spence, and Brandon Washington have been named to the preseason watch list for the 2011 Rotary Lombardi Award, given to the nation’s best college lineman.
Forston rebounded from an ankle injury in 2009 to start 12 of 13 games last season, recording 37 tackles, three quarterback sacks, and an interception. This marks the third preseason watch list to which the defensive lineman has been named this year. Forston, along with Washington, is also on the 2011 Outland Trophy watch list as well as the Bronko Nagurski preseason watch list with teammates Ray-Ray Armstrong and Spence.
Spence enters his senior season with several honors to his name, including the 2008 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. The linebacker finished the 2010 season ranked fifth in the ACC in tackles with 111, earning second team all-conference honors. Along with Armstrong, Spence was recently named to the Bednarik Award watch list and the Pony Express Award watch list.
Washington enters his junior season after a standout sophomore campaign in 2010, when the offensive lineman was named to the All-ACC First Team.
The only other Hurricane football player to receive the coveted Lombardi Award was Warren Sapp in 1994. That same year, Sapp also received the Nagurski Trophy, which honors college football’s top defensive player.
The 2011 Lombardi Award reception will be held December 6-7 at Reliant Center in Houston, Texas.
For Hurricane season tickets, call 1-800-GO-CANES or visit HurricaneSports.com.
