Alabama offensive lineman Jonah Williams has been named a finalist for the Lombardi Award, The Lombardi Honors Foundation announced Wednesday. The annual award goes to the best college football player, regardless of position, based on performance, leadership, character and resiliency. There are seven players in the running.
Williams was selected as one of the Crimson Tide’s two unanimous All-Americans in 2018 and earned the Southeastern Conference’s Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the league’s top offensive lineman. The junior started all 44 games during his career. He blocked for 20 100-yard rushing performances over the course of his three years at UA.
Last week, Williams declared for the NFL draft.
Other finalists for the Lombardi Award include Oregon’s Ugo Amadi, Notre Dame’s Julian Love, Washington State’s Gardner Minshew II, Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray, Kansas State’s Dalton Risner and Clemson’s Christian Wilkins. Williams is one of four offensive players. Three are on defense.
A winner will be chosen on Jan. 25 in Houston.
Two other Alabama players have won the Lombardi Award: Cornelius Bennett in 1986 and Jonathan Allen in 2016.
