Alabama’s Minkah Fitzpatrick is one of seven finalists for the 2017 Lombardi Award, the Lombardi Foundation announced on Monday afternoon.
The Lombardi Award is presented annually to a Division I player – regardless of position – based on performance, leadership, character and resiliency. Alabama has had two past winners, Jonathan Allen and Cornelius Bennett.
Fitzpatrick was voted as Alabama’s MVP and team captain by his teammates. He was an All-American, won the Thorpe Award as the nation’s best defensive back and Chuck Bednarik Award as the nation’s best defensive player. He chose to go pro following his junior season, in which he finished with 60 tackles, fourth-most on the team, including eight tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He had one interception this season and eight pass breakups.
He is joined as a finalist by running back Saquon Barkley of Penn State, linebacker Shaquem Griffin of UCF, quarterback Lamar Jackson of Louisville, linebacker/quarterback Joel Lanning of Iowa State, running back Bryce Love of Stanford and quarterback Baker Mayfield of Oklahoma.
The Lombardi Award winner will be announced Saturday at the Lombardi Honors presentation at Lone Star College in Houston.
