The Lombardi Award honors “the nation’s top college linemen while fueling the fight against cancer.” The Rotary Club of Houston established the award in 1970, shortly after legendary coach Vince Lombardi passed away. It celebrates players who “exemplify [Vince Lombardi’s] legacy of character, discipline, and excellence.”
On Wednesday, the Rotary Club of Houston identified 12 semifinalists for the 2026 Vince Lombardi Award. A whopping seven of them are from the SEC, including two from the Georgia Bulldogs:
- Drew Bobo – Georgia
- Chris Cole – Georgia
- Will Echoles – Ole Miss
- Xavier Gilliam – Tennessee
- Lance Heard – Kentucky
- Trevor Lauck – Iowa
- Sammy Omosigho – UCLA
- Tobi Osunsanmi – Indiana
- Kade Pieper – Iowa
- Colin Simmons – Texas
- Cade Uluave – BYU
- Princewill Umanmielen – LSU
Georgia and Iowa are the only two schools with multiple players to earn Lombardi Award semifinalist distinction.
The SEC had two finalists for the Lombardi Award in 2025. Neither Alabama‘s Kadyn Proctor nor Texas A&M‘s Cashius Howell won it, though, finishing behind Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez. An SEC player has captured the honor twice this decade, though, courtesy of Texas offensive tackle Kelvin Banks (2024) and Crimson Tide edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. (2022).
The 2026 Lombardi Award winner will be revealed at the 53rd Annual Lombardi Award Gala on Wednesday, Dec. 9 at the Hilton Americas-Houston.
