The Lombardi Award is given annually to the best lineman or linebacker in college football.
Five Conference USA players were named to the 2024 Lombardi Award Watch List this week. Those players were Jacksonville State offensive guard Clay Webb, Liberty defensive tackle Jay Hardy, New Mexico State offensive tackle Shiyazh Pete, UTEP defensive end Maurice Westmoreland and WKU defensive tackle Hosea Wheeler.
Webb was named to the Second Team All-America by the Associated Press and Walter Camp at the end of last season and was also named to the 2024 All-America team by USA Today prior to the season.
Hardy finished fourth on the team for Liberty in tackles for loss (5.0). He started the final four games of the season and recorded 15 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and a sack during that span, including the Flames’ appearance in the VRBO Fiesta Bowl.
Pete started all 15 games for the Aggies and was the anchor of a unit that won 13th nationally in tackles for loss of space allowed (1.60) and 14th in rushing yards per game (198.7).
Westmoreland was selected to the All-CUSA first team after leading the team and ranking second in the league with 7.5 sacks and finishing fourth in the league with 10.5 tackles for loss.
Wheeler was selected to the All-CUSA second team in 2023 after recording 42 tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks.
The Lombardi Award Committee will announce the semifinalists on November 1st, and the finalists will be revealed on November 15th. The winner will be honored on December 11th.
