LaMarr Woodley, Lombardi Award Winner
Senior defensive end LaMarr Woodley became the first University of Michigan player to win the Lombardi award. Many previous award winners have been dominant at the college level and in the NFL. Then there are guys like Jamal Reynolds. Here are some recent winners:
1994 - Warren Sapp (Miami)
1995 and 1996 - Orlando Pace (Ohio State)
1997 - Grant Wistrom (Nebraska)
2001 - Julius Peppers
2002 - Terrell Suggs (Arizona State)
2003 - Tommie Harris (Oklahoma)
2005 - AJ Hawk (Ohio State)
Woodley had the right perspective in discussing the BCS rankings that left Michigan out of the BCS championship game:
“Guys were down a little bit, but we have to understand that we put ourselves in that situation,” Woodley said. “We allowed other people to control our destiny. If we would’ve come out, won in Columbus, taken care of our business, it would’ve never come down to that.
“It was right in our hands,” he said. “But the only thing you can do is move on. Nothing’s going to change.”
Woodley is easily one of my favorite Wolverines. He is up there with Glenn Steele and Mark Messner as one of the greatest defensive linemen to ever play for Michigan. If the Wolverines can be lucky enough to continue to recruit players as talented as LaMarr Woodley the defense will carry on the tradition the senior started under first year coordinator Ron English. I’m looking forward to seeing his last game in the maize and blue against the Trojans in the Rose Bowl.
MORE AWARDS
Woodley also won the Ted Hendricks award on Wednesday night. The award is presented to the player deemed to be the best defensive end in the country. Given Woodley was recognized as the best lineman period, this makes a lot of sense. The Freep also reports on other Wolverines who are up for awards.
LaMarr Woodley Lombardi Trophy 2006 Michigan FootballWoodley will join teammates Leon Hall and Mike Hart in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., tonight for the College Football Awards Show. Hart is up for the Doak Walker (running back) award, Hall is a finalist for the Jim Thorpe (defensive back) award, and Woodley is a finalist for the Chuck Bednarik Trophy, given to the nation’s top defensive player. U-M center Mark Bihl is a finalist for the Dave Rimington Trophy as best center.
No Comments
No comments yet.
Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI
Leave a comment
