June 12, 2007

BERKELEY - California junior offensive lineman Alex Mack was selected to the 2007 Outland Trophy watch list, as announced by the Football Writers Association of America, on Tuesday. A total of forty-one standout linemen from around the country have been nominated for consideration for the honor. This is Mack's third selection on a preseason watch list this spring.

The Outland Trophy has been awarded to the best interior lineman in college football since 1946. The FWAA's All-America Committee will select the association's 25-man All-America team, before choosing the three Outland Trophy finalists and the winner.

Mack has been also selected to the preliminary watch list for the Rotary Lombardi Award, which honors the nation's top lineman (offensive or defensive), and the Rimington Trophy watch list, which recognizes the most outstanding center in college football. Mack's teammate, Zack Follett was selected to the Lott Trophy watch list in April, crediting the nation's top defensive player.

Mack (Santa Barbara) garnered first-team All-Pac-10 honors last season after starting all 13 games at the center position. He was a second team Pac-10 All-Academic selection and was voted the team's Most Improved Offensive Lineman. Mack finished the 2006 regular season with team-highs of 25.5 pancakes and 57.5 knockdowns. He was named to ESPN.com's All-Bowl team after helping the Bears spring two running backs for 100-yard games and not allowing a sack in the Holiday Bowl win over Texas A&M.

The Outland Trophy announcement will be held on Dec. 6 in Orlando, Fla., on the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show. The Outland Trophy presentation banquet, sponsored by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee, will be in January 2008 in Omaha, Neb.

The trophy is named after the late John Outland, a lineman at Pennsylvania at the turn of the century. Wisconsin offensive tackle Joe Thomas won the award last season.