HOUSTON, TX -- The Rotary Club of Houston has tabbed a trio of Texas A&M players as candidates for the 2012 Rotary Lombardi Award, which is given annually to the nation’s top college lineman or linebacker.

Being named to the 2012 Rotary Lombardi Award “watch list” were senior linebacker Sean Porter and junior offensive tackles Luke Joeckel and Jake Matthews. All three players have been named to multiple watch lists for national awards.

Porter, from Schertz, Texas, has also been named to watch lists for the Bednarik Award, Nagurski Trophy and the Butkus Award. Joeckel, from Arlington, Texas, and Matthews, from Missouri City, Texas, were also on the Outland Award watch list.

Porter led the Big 12 in quarterback sacks last season, and ranked No. 16 in sacks and No. 24 in tackles for losses in the NCAA statistics. Joeckel and Matthews paved the way for an offense that shattered school records for total, passing and scoring offense and was one of the few that ranked in the NCAA top 25 in all four main offensive categories (rushing, passing, total and scoring).

Texas A&M Players on National Award Watch Lists (As of Monday, July 16, 2012)

Maxwell Award (Most Outstanding Player):
Christine Michael, RB, Beaumont, Texas

Bednarik Award (Top Defensive Player):
Sean Porter, LB, Schertz, Texas

Rimington Trophy (Most Outstanding Center):
Patrick Lewis, C, Reserve, La.

Outland Award (Best Interior Lineman):
Luke Joeckel, OT, Arlington, Texas
Jake Matthews, OT, Missouri City, Texas

Nagurski Trophy (Best Defensive Player):
Sean Porter, LB, Schertz, Texas

Butkus Award (Best Linebacker):
Sean Porter, LB, Schertz, Texas
Damontre Moore, DE, Rowlett, Texas

Rotary Lombardi Award (Best Lineman or Linebacker):
Sean Porter, LB, Schertz, Texas
Luke Joeckel, OT, Arlington, Texas
Jake Matthews, OT, Missouri City, Texas