UA tight end Rob Gronkowski was named on the preliminary watch list for the 2009 Rotary Lombardi Award, the UA athletics department announced Monday.
The junior is one of 48 players on the list, which was compiled using candidates who have earned All-American honors or have been named to their respective all-conference first team. The list will be updated before the start of the 2009 season.
Gronkowski has 75 career receptions – 43 of which came last year for 672 yards and 10 scores, helping him earn third-team Associated Press All-America honors, and a first-team All-Pacific 10 Conference award.
Gronkowski holds Arizona single-game, single-season and career records for tight ends in catches, yards and touchdowns.
Kristofer O’Dowd of USC and UCLA’s Brian Price join Gronkowski on the list as Pac-10 representatives.
