August 11, 2004
Texas A&M's Geoff Hangartner, a senior from New Braunfels, Texas, has been added to the 2004 Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List, the award's Executive Committee announced Wednesday.
Hangartner, who is entering his third season as starting center, is the cornerstone of the Aggies' offensive front. A third-team All-Big 12 pick in 2003, Hangartner helped cleared the way for the Aggies' first 1,000-yard rusher in five seasons last year. As a team, the Aggies also broke the 2,000-yard barrier in rushing yards for the first time since 1997 with 2,127 ground yards in 2003.
The Rotary Lombardi Award is celebrating its 35th year of honoring the finest linemen in college football. The 2004 Watch List includes 27 offensive tackles, 24 defensive ends, 20 linebackers, 13 centers, eight defensive tackles, seven offensive guards and four tight ends.
Hangartner is the third Aggie named to a watch list for a national award in 2004. The others are Todd Pegram (Lou Groza Placekicker Award) and Jaxson Appel (Jim Thorpe Award).