Redshirt junior center Shane Vallot has been named to the Rimington Trophy Watch List, the award's committee announced on Wednesday afternoon. Vallot is one of eight centers from the Sun Belt Conference recognized on the list.
A Louisiana native, Vallot has started in all three of the team's games this season, helping the Ragin' Cajuns to their first 3-0 start since 1988.
During the historic 2019 campaign, he started in all 14 games at center, helping pave the way for a Louisiana ground attack which finished the year ranked third nationally in yards per carry (6.28), fourth nationally in rushing touchdowns (42), sixth nationally in rushing yards per game (257.4) and seventh nationally in total rushing yards (3,604).
Additionally, he was part of an offensive line in 2019 that ranked fifth nationally and first in the Sun Belt in sacks allowed (1.07).
Off the field, Vallot is one of the program's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) representatives and a member of Louisiana Football's Leadership Council.
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 student-athletes.
The Rimington Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 25 awards now boast over 800 recipients, dating to 1935. Visit https://ncfaa.org to learn more about the association.