Junior in third season as Bulls’ starter at center
NEW YORK, OCT. 14, 2020 – USF junior Brad Cecil has been named to the Rimington Trophy Watch List, an award presented annually to the nation’s premier center. Since its inception, the award has raised over $4.5 million for the Boomer Esiason Foundation, which is committed to finding a cure for cystic fibrosis.
A native of Jacksonville, Cecil has started 24 games at center and anchored the USF offensive line since his arrival in 2018. He played an instrumental role in helping the USF offense rank 33rd in the NCAA in total offense in 2018, as the Bulls finished that season with an average of 437.7 yards per game en route to the program’s fourth straight bowl appearance. The Bulls ran for 194.0 yards per game in 2018 and posted the fourth-most rushing yards in program season history (2,517) and the fifth-most rushing touchdowns (26).
Cecil started all 12 games in 2019 and helped USF average 330 yards per game and feature four games with a 100-yard rusher. So far in 2020, Cecil has started in both games in which he has appeared.
The Rimington Trophy Committee adjusted its procedures with consideration to the COVID-19 pandemic, choosing to hold its 2020 watch list until play began and a plan was implemented across all Division I conferences. This year, it accepted all nominations from eligible Division I programs with the goal of highlighting as many collegiate centers as possible and showing the outstanding commitment of the following students athletes.
The center with the most first team votes will be determined the winner. If there is a tie with first team votes, then the center with the most second team votes will win. If there is still a tie, the winner will be determined by a majority vote from the Rimington Trophy committee. Because of COVID-19 and the ever-changing guidelines of in-person events, details of the annual presentation will be announced when confirmed.
Four Bulls have been named to four 2020 national award watch lists. Senior punter Trent Schneider was named a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, commonly known as the “Academic Heisman,” and is on the watch list for the Ray Guy Award, presented to the nation’s top punter. Senior cornerback KJ Sails (Wuerffel Trophy) and junior kicker Jared Sackett (Groza Award) are also on watch lists.
ABOUT USF FOOTBALL
The USF football program first took the field in 1997 and completed its 23rd season (20th at the FBS level) in 2019. The Bulls have posted 15 winning seasons, earned 14 All-America selections and 29 first-team all-conference selections and has seen 30 players selected in the NFL Draft. USF has made 10 bowl games appearances (going 6-4 in those games) and posted a program record six straight appearances from 2005-2010. The Bulls most recently made four straight bowl appearances from 2015-18 and posted back-to-back 10-win seasons in 2016 and 2017, logging a program-record 11-2 mark in 2016 while finishing both seasons ranked in the Top 25. USF spent a program record 20 straight weeks ranked in the Top 25 during the 2016 and 2017 seasons and reached as high as No. 2 in the national rankings during the 2007 season.
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– #GoBulls –
