Reese Dismukes named to Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List

HOOVER -- Reese Dismukes earned his third preseason accolade on Sunday as the Auburn center was named to the Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List.

A total of 123 players from 76 universities were recognized by the Rotary Lombardi committee as potential contenders for the award, which recognizes the top lineman or linebacker in college football.

"This is one of our favorite times of the year," Rotary Lombardi Award committee chair Brian Carr said in a statement. "The dog days of summer are when people start thinking about college football again. We are ready to see who is going to distinguish themselves this year, and we look forward to tracking the progress of each player on this list."

Dismukes was already named to the Rimington Trophy and Outland Trophy Watch Lists. He will also be one of Auburn's three player representatives at SEC Media Days.

The Spanish Fort native enters the season as a fourth-year starter and served as the team's offensive captain last season.

Candidates earned a place on the preliminary watch list by earning All-American honors, being named to their respective all-conference teams or receiving 2014 pre-season honors.

The Rotary Lombardi Selection Committee is comprised of more than 300 members, including all past winners and finalists, all Division I head coaches and a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.

The 45th Rotary Lombardi Award will be presented on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at the Bayou Music Center in Houston, Texas.

Pittsburgh defensive end Aaron Donald won the award last season.