Cedric Gray named to Lombardi Award watch list
Another day and another preseason honor for North Carolina Tar Heels’ linebacker Cedric Gray.
On Monday, Gray was named to the Bedarnik Award watch list for the nation’s top defensive player. A day later, Gray was named to the Rotary Lombardi Award watch list as one of 80 players on the preseason watch list presented by the Rotary Club of Houston.
The award is given out annually to one college football offensive or defensive lineman who exemplifies the character and discipline of NFL Hall of Fame Head Coach Vince Lombardi in addition to outstanding performance and ability.
Gray is coming off a big 2022 campaign in which he had 144 total tackles, 6 passes defended, 1 sack, 3 forced fumbles, and 2 interceptions. That effort earned him All-ACC honors and now he goes into the 2023 season as one of the best linebackers in the conference.
Ced 🤝 Lombardi Award#CarolinaFootball 🏈 #UNCommon pic.twitter.com/7tpGzF3Vmo
— Carolina Football (@UNCFootball) August 15, 2023
So far this offseason, Gray has been named to four preseason award watch lists: Lombardi Award, Nagurski Trophy, Butkus Award, Bednarik Award.
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