Texas junior C Chris Hall has been named to the 2008 Rimington Trophy watch list, the award's committee has announced. The trophy honors the nation's top center.
Hall has played in 20 games, starting 12, during his career. A versatile lineman, Hall started at least one game at all five positions along the offensive line in 2007 before settling in at center for the 2008 season.
Last year, he helped Texas average 462.9 yards of total offense (13th NCAA), 207.5 yards rushing (17th NCAA) and 37.2 points per game (14th NCAA). He anchored a line that helped RB Jamaal Charles gain 1,619 rushing yards (No. 5 on UT's single-season rushing list). Texas was one of only 10 schools nationally to rush and pass for at least 200 yards per game. The Longhorns had nine games of at least 400 yards and five games of at least 500 yards, while scoring at least 30 points in 9-of-13 games.
In addition to his work on the field, Hall is a two-time second-team Academic All-Big 12 performer.
While more than a dozen All-America football teams are selected annually, the Rimington Trophy committee uses the American Football Coaches Association, the Walter Camp Foundation, The Sporting News and the Football Writers Association of America teams to determine a winner.
Because the selectors of these four All-America teams can place centers in a "mix" of offensive linemen that includes guards and tackles, their 11-man first teams can often have two centers. The committee's policy is to count all players that play primarily the center position for their respective teams, even though they may be listed as guards or tackles on the four All-America teams.
The center with the most first team votes will be determined the winner. If there is a tie with first team votes, then the center with the most second team votes will win. If there is still a tie, the winner will be determined by the Rimington Trophy committee.
The winner will be honored at the Rimington Trophy Presentation banquet at the Rococo Theatre in Lincoln, Neb., on January 17, 2009.
