July 15, 2013
HOUSTON, Texas - San Diego State junior linebacker Jake Fely (Oceanside, Calif.) has been named to the preseason watch list for the 2013 Rotary Lombardi Award. Fely is one of 15 players from the Mountain West to be a candidate for the award, more than doubling last year's total of seven.
It is the fourth preseason honor this summer for Fely, who has already earned all-Mountain West first team defensive honors from Phil Steele and Athlon Sports, in addition to being named to the Bednarik Award Preseason Watch List.
Last season, Fely ranked second on the team with 90 total tackles and 11.5 tackles for loss, while recording a team-high seven sacks. He was a second-team all-MW selection.
Fely is the sixth Aztec to be named to the preseason Lombardi Watch list, joining tight end Gavin Escobar (2012), linebackers Miles Burris (2011), Russell Allen (2008) and Kirk Morrison (2003, 2004) as well as offensive lineman Mike Kracalik (2004).
The annual Rotary Lombardi Award honors the top lineman in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Eligibility for the award is limited to down, end-to-end, either on offense or defense, who set up no farther than 10 yards to the left or right of the ball, or linebackers who set up no farther than five yards deep from the line of scrimmage.
Candidates earn a place on the official watch list by receiving All-American honors last season, by being named to their respective all-conference first team last season, by being projected to be an All-American or first team all-conference player for the coming season, or by nomination approved by the Rotary Lombardi nominations committee.
The Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List will be periodically updated and revised through the conclusion of the voting to determine the 12 Semifinalists for 2013. The 44th Rotary Lombardi Award will be announced on Dec. 11, 2013 at the Wortham Center in Houston, Texas.