Bradley Bozeman Named to Rimington Trophy Watch List

Alabama center Bradley Bozeman has been named to the 2017 Rimington Trophy Watch List, award organizers announced earlier this week. Bozeman is one of eight Southeastern Conference centers among the 63 named to the list.

Bozeman started all 15 games at center in 2016 and helped the Tide rank 16th nationally and first in the SEC in scoring offense (38.8 ppg), 12th nationally and second in the league in rushing offense (245.0 ypg) and 34th in the nation in total offense (455.3 ypg). The Roanoke, Ala., native blocked for 11 100-yard rushing games in 2016 — four from Damien Harris and Jalen Hurts along with two from Bo Scarbrough and one by Josh Jacobs. He was named to the Alabama coaching staff’s offensive players of the week lists for his performances against Ole Miss, Arkansas, Tennessee, Texas A&M, LSU, Mississippi State, Auburn and Florida.

Bozeman is the second member of the Crimson Tide football team to appear on a preseason watch list. Defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick was named to the Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List earlier this month.

The Rimington Trophy is presented annually to the most outstanding center in NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision. Since its inception, the Rimington Trophy has raised over $2.9 million for the cystic fibrosis community. The award is overseen by the Boomer Esiason Foundation, which is committed to finding a cure for cystic fibrosis and has raised over $130 million for the fight against cystic fibrosis. Dave Rimington, the award's namesake, was a consensus first-team All-American center at the University of Nebraska in 1981 and 1982, during which time he became the Outland Trophy's only double winner as the nation's finest college interior lineman.

The 2017 winner will be recognized at the Rimington Trophy Presentation at the Rococo Theatre in Lincoln, Neb., on January 13, 2018.