Hypolite On Lombardi Watch List

The Rotary Lombardi Award released its initial watch list for the 2008 award given to the nation's top defensive lineman/linebacker. Colorado's George Hypolite is on the list.

Hypolite is one of 54 players on the preliminary watch list, which will be pared down during the 2008 season.

Eligibility for the award is limited to down linemen and those defensive players who line up within five yards of the football. The candidates earned a place on the preliminary watch list by earning All-American honors or by being named to their respective all-conference first team as selected by the conference’s head coaches.

Hypolite will be a senior in 2008. Originally recruited as a fullback, Hypolite found his way on to the field as a true freshman defensive tackle in 2005, and has been a defensive anchor for the Buffaloes the past two seasons.

In 2007, Hypolite led the Buffs with six sacks, and also had 5 tackles for loss and 44 total tackles.

Another lineman making the list with a Colorado connection is David Veikune, who played at CU in 2004 before transferring to Hawaii, where he will be a senior this coming fall.