FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Fred Baer
(650) 483-3733
baerf@smccd.edu
Former College of San Mateo football player Jimmy Leatiota is “distinguished” on the official 2018 Outland Trophy Watch List for college football’s best interior lineman.
DALLAS, Texas (EMUEagles.com) – Another Eastern Michigan University football player was named to a preseason watch list today, July 24, as senior Jimmy Leatiota (San Jose, Calif.-Wilcox (College of San Mateo)) was distinguished as a candidate for the 2018 Outland Trophy presented by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases for the best interior lineman in college football, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.
Leatiota is one of five Mid-American Conference lineman named to the 82-man watch list.
The San Jose, Calif. native has been a stalwart on the EMU offensive line since his arriving on campus. A candidate for the 2017 Outland Trophy, he helped anchor an overhauled offensive line at right guard that ranked second in the MAC and 28th nationally in the fewest sacks given up in 2017. For his efforts, Leatiota earned Second Team All-MAC accolades while also earning Academic All-MAC honors. EMU’s offense ranked third in the MAC in passing offense at 257.3 yards per game through the air. The line also gelled down the stretch for the rushing attack, as EMU racked up 815 yards on the ground and four 100-yard rushers during the final four games.
The Outland Trophy winner is chosen from three finalists who are a part of the annual Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) All-America Team.
The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the entire membership, selects a 26-man first team and eventually the three Outland finalists. Committee members, then by individual ballot, select the winner. Only interior linemen on offense or defense are eligible for the award; ends are not eligible.
The list will be trimmed to up to seven semifinalists on Nov. 14. Six days later, three Outland Trophy finalists will be named by the FWAA. The winner of the 73rd Outland Trophy – named after the late John Outland, an All-America lineman at Penn at the turn of the 20th century, will be announced at the Werner Enterprises Outland Trophy Awards Dinner produced by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee on Jan. 9 .
The FWAA, founded in 1941, consists of 1,400 men and women who cover college football. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include game-day operations, major awards and its annual All-America team.