Gophers center named to 3rd preseason watch list

The University of Minnesota football team’s center has been named to another preseason award watch list.

John Michael Schmitz was named to the Lombardi Award Watch List, the third watch list he’s been named to, on Monday.

Schmitz is also on the watch lists for the Outland Trophy, which goes to the nation’s best interior offensive lineman, and the Rimington Award, given to the best center in college football. The Lombardi Award is given annually to the offensive or defensive lineman that best exemplifies the character and discipline of Vince Lombardi, in addition to outstanding performance.

In his collegiate career, Schmitz has played in 44 games and made 23 starts at center for the Gophers.