TCU's Jake Kirkpatrick has been named the winner of the 2010 Rimington Trophy, presented to the nation's most outstanding center.
Also a first-team Walter Camp All-American and the only offensive player in the last two years to be a Rotary Lombardi Award finalist, Kirkpatrick was announced as the winner Thursday night at The Home Depot College Football Awards Show televised on ESPN from Lake Buena Vista, Fla. He becomes the first center from TCU to win the award.
Dave Rimington, the award's namesake, was a consensus two-time first-team All-America center at Nebraska (1981-82). He also became the Outland Trophy's only double winner as the nation's best college interior lineman.
"Jake has been an instrumental part of the offensive line for TCU this season, and a major reason they still are undefeated," Rimington said. "We are extremely proud to name him the winner of the 2010 Rimington Trophy.
"Congratulations to Jake and all the watch list candidates and finalists."
Kirkpatrick sets the blocking scheme on each play for the third-ranked and Rose Bowl-bound Horned Frogs.
A 6-foot-3, 305-pound senior from Tyler, Texas, Kirkpatrick is the anchor of a TCU offensive line that paves the way for the Horned Frogs to rank fourth nationally in scoring offense (43.3 points per game), eighth in rushing (261.2 yards per game) and ninth in total offense (491.5 yards per game). The Horned Frogs have allowed just nine sacks this season, tied for the seventh-lowest total in the nation.
Kirkpatrick, a 2009 Rimington Trophy finalist, never played football until his senior year at Robert E. Lee High School. He was previously a first-team all-state selection in basketball. He also lettered in baseball and tennis in high school.
The 2010 Rimington Trophy presentation banquet is Jan. 15 at the Rococo Theatre in Lincoln, Neb.
