Eligibility for the Rotary Lombardi Award is limited to down linemen, 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. The 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 preseason honors. The Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List will be updated prior to the start of the 2014 season in order to identify other players who have received significant pre-season honors.
No Conference USA member placed more players on the Rotary Lombardi Watch List than Marshall. But Florida Atlantic and North Texas did have two players apiece honored. The Owls' had senior linebacker Andrae Kirk and senior tackle Braden Lyons, while the Mean Green placed senior guards Cyril Lemon and Mason Y'Barbo.
Read more: http://www.herald-dispatch.com/sports/x720301066/MUs-Holmes-Jasperse-Van-Horn-on-Lombardi-watch-list