Bruin center named to Rimington Trophy Watch List
UCLA center Jake Brendel blocks a Trojan in his freshman season. The now-redshirt senior was named to the 2015 Rimington Trophy Watch List on Wednesday morning. (Daily Bruin file photo)
By Tanner Walters
July 8, 2015 2:16 p.m.
UCLA football’s Jake Brendel was named to the 63-man 2015 Rimington Trophy Watch List on Wednesday morning. This marks the third year in a row that the Bruin center has made the preseason list.
The Rimington Trophy, an annual award in its 15th year, is given to the Most Outstanding Center in NCAA Division I-A College Football.
Brendel, a redshirt senior, was a team co-captain in 2014, in addition to being a second-team All-Pac-12 selection and a first-team academic all-conference pick. He started 39 of 40 games at center over the past three seasons, only missing the 2014 season opener at the University of Virginia due to injury. In recent years, Brendel has anchored the offensive line for former quarterback Brett Hundley and running back Paul Perkins.
In an unsurprising move during spring practices, offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone announced that Brendel would be the starting center for UCLA this fall. The coach said he expects veteran leadership from his returning starters while the team deals with a new starting quarterback.
Finalists for the award will be announced December 7, and the winner will be honored at the Rimington Trophy Presentation banquet in Lincoln, Nebraska, in January 2016.
Compiled by Tanner Walters, Bruin Sports senior staff.
