University Southern California Trojans
Players Mentioned
USC Football's Michael Pittman Jr. Named Lombardi Award Semifinalist
December 11, 2019 | Football, Features
A group of up to 7 finalists will be chosen from the 21 semifinalist, then the winner will be announced at halftime of the College Football Playoff championship game on Jan. 13.
Pittman Jr., who has 95 receptions for 1,222 yards and 11 TDs this season, won the 2019 Pop Warner College Football Award, is a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award and a semifinalist for the Witten Award. He made the 2019 All-Pac-12 first team. He is fourth nationally in receptions (7.9), 10th in receiving yards (101.8) and 13th in receiving TDs. A USC team captain, he is very active in community service.
Joining Pittman as semifinalists for the Lombardi are: quarterbacks Joe Burrow of LSU, Justin Herbert of Oregon, Tyler Huntley of Utah, Jalen Hurts of Oklahoma, Malcolm Perry of Navy and Kyle Trask of Florida, running backs Chuba Hubbard of Oklahoma State and Jonathan Taylor of Wisconsin, receiver Cee Dee Lamb of Oklahoma, offensive lineman Andrew Thomas of Georgia, defensive linemen Bradlee Anae of Utah, Derek Brown of Auburn, Raekwon Davis of Alabama, AJ Epenesa of Iowa, Yetur Gross-Matos of Penn State, Kenny Willekes of Michigan State and Chase Young of Ohio State, linebacker Evan Weaver of California, defensive back CJ Henderson of Florida and kicker Rodrigo Blankenship of Georgia.
From 1970 to 2016, the Lombardi Award was presented to the nation's top college lineman or linebacker. During that time, USC offensive guard Brad Budde won it in 1979. Five other Trojans have been Lombardi finalists: George Achica (1982), Jack Del Rio (1984) Tim Ryan (1989), Shaun Cody (2004) and Rey Maualuga (2008).
