MOUNT PLEASANT – Central Michigan University senior linebacker
Red Keith (Franklin, Ga./Heard County HS) and junior offensive lineman
Andrew Hartline (Baroda, Mich./Stevensville Lakeshore HS) have been
added to the preseason watch list for the Lombardi Award.
Keith and Hartline are two of 108 players on the preseason watch list.
The Lombardi Award is presented annually to the top lineman in college
football. Offensive and defensive linemen, tight ends and linebackers
who line up within five yards of the line of scrimmage are eligible for
the award.
Keith has more career tackles (326) than any other returning player in
the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. CMU’s leading tackler each of
the last three seasons, Keith was an All-Mid-American Conference first
team selection after posting a career-high 127 tackles in 2006. He made
at least 13 tackles in four games a year ago, including a season-high
15 against both Boston College and Toledo.
Hartline, who has started all 25 games over the past two seasons at
right tackle, will move to left tackle to replace NFL first-round draft
pick
Joe Staley. He was an All-MAC second team selection in 2006.
CMU opens the 2007 season at Kansas on Saturday.
Courtesy: Robert Barclay/CMU
