Four SEC defenders from four different programs have been named to the watch list for the Rotary Lombardi Award, given annually to the nation’s top down lineman (or linebacker) on either side of the football.
Alabama tackle Cam Robinson, Auburn defensive end Carl Lawson, Georgia’s John Theus and Tennessee pass rusher Curt Maggitt were the SEC representatives.
According to the Lombardi release, candidates earned a place on the preliminary watch list by earning All-American honors, being named to their respective all-conference teams or receiving 2015 pre-season honors.
The SEC’s last Lombardi winner was Auburn’s Nick Fairley in 2010. Former league standouts Glenn Dorsey (LSU) and David Pollack (Georgia) also won the prestigious award during the BCS era.
2015 Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List
| First | Last | Position | Class | School |
| Alex | Hansen | DL | Sr | Air Force |
| Cody | Grice | DT | Sr | Akron |
| Cam | Robinson | OL | So | Alabama |
| John | Law | LB | Jr | Appalachian State |
| Ja’Von | Rolland-Jones | DE | So | Arkansas State |
| Carl | Lawson | DL | So | Auburn |
| Eric | Mac Lain | OG | Grad | Clemson |
| Shaq | Lawson | DE | Jr | Clemson |
| Marquise | Vann | LB | Sr | Connecticut |
| Roderick | Johnson | OT | So | Florida State |
| Alex | Fifita | OL | Sr | Fresno State |
| John | Theus | OL | Sr | Georgia |
| Darien | Foreman | OG | Sr | Georgia Southern |
| Cody | Whitehair | OL | Sr | Kansas State |
| Vontarrlius | Dora | DE | Sr | Louisiana Tech |
| Taylor | Fallin | OL | Sr | Memphis State |
| Will | Anthony | Dl | Sr | Navy |
| Maliek | Collins | DT | Jr | Nebraska |
| Perez | Ford | DE | Sr | Northern Illinois |
| Chris | May | OT | Sr | South Alabama |
| Kyle | Murphy | OT | Sr | Stanford |
| Halapoulivaati | Vaitai | OT | Sr | TCU |
| Joey | Hunt | OL | Sr | TCU |
| Kyle | Friend | C | Sr | Temple |
| Curt | Maggitt | LB | Sr | Tennessee |
| Cameron | Townsend | LB | Fr | Texas |
| Pete | Robertson | LB | Sr | Texas Tech |
| Storm | Norton | OT | Jr | Toledo |
| Nico | Marley | LB | Jr | Tulane |
| Derrick | Alexander | DE | Sr | Tulsa |
| Su’a | Cravens | LB | Jr | USC |
| Toa | Lobendahn | OG | So | USC |
| Luther | Maddy | DT | Sr | Virginia Tech |
