Trey Baldwin and Tyler Grubb named to Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List

RUSTON, La. – Louisiana Tech linebackers Trey Baldwin and Tyler Grubbs have been named to the 2021 Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List it was announced by the Rotary Lombardi Award in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Houston on Thursday.

The Rotary Lombardi Award goes annually to the college football offensive or defensive lineman, including linebackers and tight ends, who in addition to outstanding performance and ability, best exemplifies the character and discipline of NFL Hall of Fame Head Coach Vince Lombardi.

Baldwin, a member of the 2021 Conference USA Preseason Watch List, was named second team all-C-USA and earned a spot on the Phil Steele All-Conference USA third team in 2020.

The Orange, Texas, native finished the 2020 season second on the team with 85 total tackles, including a team-best 53 solo tackles. Baldwin posted a career-high 18 tackles, including 14 solo, at UTSA on Oct. 24. His 18 tackles tied for the 11th most nationally in the season, while his 14 solo tackles ranked second in the nation. He ranked first in C-USA and 11th in the FBS in solo tackles with 5.9 per game and was third in the conference in tackles per game at 9.4.

Baldwin also registered 7.0 tackles for loss, including 1.0 sacks, five pass breakups, one interception and one quarterback hurry during the 2020 campaign.

Grubbs, who also has been named to the Chuck Bednarik Award and Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch lists, will look to capitalize on a breakthrough freshman campaign where he was a 2020 FWAA, ESPN and 247Sports.com Freshman All-American. As a true freshman, Grubbs was named first team all-Conference USA by both the league and Phil Steele while also earning a spot on the Conference USA All-Freshman team.

The New Orleans, La., native registered a team-best 99 tackles and finished second on the team in both solo tackles (45) and tackles for loss (9.5) as a true freshman in 2020. Grubbs opened the season with back-to-back double digit tackle performances with a career-high 16 tackles against Southern Miss (Sept. 19) and a 12-tackle outing against Houston Baptist (Sept. 26). He ended the 2020 campaign with a career-high 12 solo tackles against Georgia Southern at the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl (Dec. 23).

Grubbs finished the 2020 season ranked second in C-USA and 25th in the FBS in tackles per game at 9.9, and he was sixth in C-USA in tackles for loss with 9.5.

Honorary Chair and Famed Green Bay Packer Jerry Kramer, 1987 Winner Chris Spielman, the final four nominees, and their coaches will attend the award ceremony on Dec. 8 in Houston, Texas.

Louisiana Tech opens the 2021 season at Mississippi State on Saturday, Sept. 4, at 3 p.m. Tech will then open a three-game home stretch against Southeastern on Saturday, Sept. 11, at 6 p.m. inside Joe Aillet Stadium.

Season tickets for the 2021 Louisiana Tech football season are on sale now. Fans can purchase season tickets online at LATechSports.com/tickets or by calling the LA Tech Ticket Office at (318) 257-3631.

Three-game mini plan tickets for the 2021 LA Tech football campaign are also on sale and available for purchase here.

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