JONESBORO, Ark. (8/1/22) – Arkansas State senior linebacker Kivon Bennett has been named to the 2022 Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List, comprised of 77 players. 

 

Eligibility for the Rotary Lombardi Award is limited to down linemen, end-to-end, either on offense or defense, who set up no further than 10 yards to the left or right of the ball, or linebackers who set up no further than five yards deep from the line of scrimmage. 

 

Bennett, a Preseason First Team All-Sun Belt Conference pick, moved to linebacker ahead of spring practices. He was a Second Team All-Sun Belt, Phil Steel Third Team All-Sun Belt and PFF First Team All-Sun Belt selection last season after starting all 12 contests at defensive end.

 

He ranked first on the team and sixth in the Sun Belt with 8.0 sacks for 42 yards. He led the team with 16.5 tackles for loss and also had a team-high five quarterback hurries. Bennett is the first Lombardi Trophy Watch List honoree for A-State since Chris Stone was on the initial list in 2015. 

 

The Rotary Lombardi Award® National Selection Committee consists of over 500 esteemed sports writers, analysts, and commentators who cover college football on a national, regional, or conference level, past RLA alumni including winners and finalists, and head coaches. 

 

A mid-season watch list will be released on Oct. 15 to reflect any updates to the current list. Semifinalists will be announced on Nov. 10 with four finalists announced Nov. 23. The 2022 Rotary Lombardi Award Winner will be announced Dec. 7. 

 

Season tickets for the Red Wolves’ 2022 campaign are available for purchase through the A-State Ticket Office, located at First National Bank Arena’s lower red entrance, in person, by phone at 870-972-2781 or online at AStateRedWolves.com.