Vellano on Lombardi Watch List
7/12/2011 8:00:00 AM | Football
July 12, 2011
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HOUSTON - Maryland defensive lineman Joe Vellano was placed on the watch list for the Rotary Lombardi Award.
The Rotary Lombardi Award Committee made the announcement Tuesday with Vellano among 19 players from the Atlantic Coast Conference on the preseason list which will be periodically updated and revised up to the first round of voting to determine the 12 semifinalists in October.
Vellano, a native of Rexford, N.Y., emerged in the spring of 2010 and has since been atop the depth chart at defensive tackle.
A 2011 consensus preseason first team All-ACC selection, Vellano started at defensive tackle in all 13 games last year. The junior led the team with five sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss, and his 4.9 tackle-per-game average was fourth in the ACC among defensive linemen.
Vellano is the third Terrapin to be placed on a preseason national award list, joining Kenny Tate (Lott, Trophy, Bednarik Award and Nagurski Trophy) and Danny O'Brien (Maxwell Award).
Eligibility for the Rotary Lombardi Award is limited to down linemen, end-to-end, either on offense of defense, who set up no farther than 10 yards to the left or right of the ball, and linebackers who set up no more than five yards deep from the line of scrimmage.
The 42nd Rotary Lombardi Award banquet will be held on Dec. 6-7, 2011 at Reliant Center in Houston.
To view the complete watch list for the Rotary Lombardi Award, click here.
Upcoming Dates for Maryland Football
• July 24-25 - ACC Media Day in Pinehurst, N.C.
• Aug. 8 - Players report to preseason camp
• Aug. 9 - First day of preseason practice
• Aug. 16 - Media Day
• Sept. 5 - Season opener vs. Miami
