Bazuin Named to Lombardi Award Watch List

MOUNT PLEASANT - Central Michigan University senior defensive end Daniel Bazuin of McBain (Mich.) High School has been named to the 2006 Lombardi Award Preliminary Watch List.

Daniel Bazuin, the 2005 Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Year and a two-time first team All-MAC selection, was also a member of last season's watch list.

Bazuin equaled a conference record with 16 sacks in 2005. He also recorded 26.5 tackles for loss; both his sack and tackle for loss totals are new CMU single-season records. He enters his senior season already holding CMU career records for sacks (25) and tackles for loss (48.5). He ranked first in Division I-A in tackles for loss and second in sacks in 2005. His five forced fumbles were also tied for the fourth-most in the country.

Bazuin recorded at least 10 tackles in three different games last season, twice earning MAC West Defensive Player of the Week accolades. He was in on 11 stops in each of the season's final two games, including 5.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks in a 31-24 overtime win at Ball State on Nov. 19. Bazuin had at least one sack in eight contests, and two or more sacks in five games this season.

A marketing major with a 3.42 GPA, Bazuin is a member of the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV squad and Academic All-MAC team.

Central Michigan opens the 2006 season at home on Thursday, Aug. 31, hosting Boston College at 6 p.m. ESPN2 will televise the contest to a national audience.