Longa Named To Lombardi Award Watch List

The Rotary Club of Houston released their 2015 preseason watch list for the Lombardi Award Tuesday, and Rutgers linebacker Steve Longa made the cut.

LB Steve Longa (3)
John O’Boyle/The Star-Ledger

The award is given annually to the college football offensive or defensive lineman or linebacker who, in addition to outstanding performance and ability, best demonstrates the discipline of legendary Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi.

The redshirt-junior has started all 26 games he has played in so far at Rutgers, and led the team in tackles both seasons (123 as a freshman in 2013, and 102 last year as a sophomore). Last season, the Saddle Brook, N.J. native made 4.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage and two sacks. He will man the weak-side (Will) linebacker spot in 2015.

According to rotarylombardiaward.com, “The 46th Rotary Lombardi Award will be held on December 9, 2015 at the Bayou Music Center in Houston, Texas. Proceeds from the Rotary Lombardi Awards stay in the Houston community and benefit the American Cancer Society, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Centers / Children’s Cancer Hospital, and Texas Children’s Cancer Center.”

Longa joins junior wide receiver/kick returner Janarion Grant (Hornung Award), senior defensive tackle Darius Hamilton (Bednarik Award, Outland Trophy), and senior wide receiver Leonte Carroo (Maxwell Award) as Scarlet Knights who have thus far received recognition on watch lists going into the season.

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