BATON ROUGE — LSU’s Rudy Niswanger is among 39 players from across the country named to the Rimington Award Watch List, the award announced on Monday.
The Rimington Award is presented annually to college football’s top center. Last year, LSU’s Ben Wilkerson was co-recipient of the award along with Michigan’s David Baas.
The Rimington Trophy recipient is determined by a consensus of the four All-America teams: The Walter Camp Football Foundation, America Football Coaches Association, Football Writers Association of America, and “The Sporting News.”
Niswanger enters his third year as a starter on the offensive line for the Tigers. A year ago, the Monroe, La., native started four different positions on the offensive line for the 9-3 Tigers. Niswanger started the final four games of the season at center, taking the place of an injured Wilkerson.
In addition to his versatility on the football field, Niswanger has proven to be one of the top student-athletes to ever wear an LSU uniform. Niswanger graduated in May with a 4.0 grade point average in pre-medicine. Already accepted to medical school, Niswanger decided to remain at LSU for his final season of football before pursuing a career in medicine.
Niswanger earned First-Team ESPN Academic All-America honors in 2004 and he’s a three-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll.
Fall 2005 Rimington Trophy Watch List
Albert Bimper, Colorado State, Senior, 6’1″ 303
Tony Bonds, Mississippi, Senior, 6’4″ 308
Jesse Boone, Utah, Senior, 6’5″ 305
David Castillo, Florida State, Senior, 6’2″ 301
JB Closner, Alabama, Senior, 6’4″ 290
Ryan Cook, New Mexico, Senior, 6’7″ 339
Stephen Culp, TCU, Senior, 6’4″ 307
Mike Degory, Florida, Senior, 6’5″ 314
Mike Elgin, Iowa, Junior, 6’4″ 270
Greg Eslinger, Minnesota, Senior, 6’3″ 280
Mark Fenton, Colorado, Junior, 6’4″ 290
Leroy Harris, NC State, Senior, 6’3″ 295
Jasper Harvey, San Diego State, Senior, 6’3″ 305
Jeremy Hines, West Virginia, Junior, 6’2″ 285
Ryan Kalil, Southern California, Junior, 6’4″ 290
Kili Lefotu, Arizona, Senior, 6’5″ 320
Doug Legursky, Marshall, Sophomore, 6’3″ 308
Todd Londot, Miami (Ohio), Senior, 6’5″ 305
Grayling Love, Arizona State, Senior, 6’3″ 297
Nick Mangold, Ohio State, Senior, 6’4″ 280
Kurt Mann, Nebraska, Junior, 6’4″ 280
Mike McCloskey, UCLA, Senior, 6’5″ 285
Chris McNeil, Mississippi State, Senior, 6’3″ 294
Nick Mihlhauser, Washington State, Senior, 6’3″ 283
Chris Morris, Michigan State, Senior, 6’4″ 291
Rudy Niswanger, LSU, Senior, 6’5″ 293
Marvin Philip, California, Senior, 6’2″ 285
Donovan Raiola, Wisconsin, Senior, 6’3″ 290
Lance Reynolds, BYU, Senior, 6’3″ 293
Kyle Roper, Arkansas, Senior, 6’3″ 291
Patrick Ross, Boston College, Senior, 6’4″ 294
Adam Spieker, Missouri, Sophomore, 6’3″ 310
Jason Spitz, Louisville, Senior, 6’4″ 308
Marcus Stewart, Louisiana Tech, Senior, 6’3″ 305
Russ Tanner, Georgia, Senior, 6’4″ 290
Brian Van Acker, Northern Illinois, Senior, 6’4″ 287
Brad Vanneman, Washington, Senior, 6’3″ 300
Chris Yoder, Texas A&M, Sophomore, 6’3″ 292
Kyle Young, Fresno State, Junior, 6’5″ 320