Bellore, Zombo Named to Lombardi Watch List

MOUNT PLEASANT - Central Michigan University linebacker Nick Bellore and defensive end Frank Zombo have been named to the preliminary watch list for the 2009 Lombardi Award.

The Lombardi Award is presented annually to the nation’s top offensive or defensive lineman or linebacker.

Candidates earned a place on the preliminary watch list by earning All-America honors or by being named to their respective all-conference first team as selected by the conference’s head coaches. The Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List will be updated prior to the start of the 2009 season in order to identify those players who have been selected as pre-season honors candidates.

Central Michigan is one of just eight schools with multiple players on the preliminary watch list.

Both Nick Bellore and Frank Zombo were All-Mid-American Conference first team selections last season. Bellore ranked fourth nationally in tackles (11.3 tpg), and his 148 total tackles tied for the third-highest single-season total in school history. Zombo led the conference in tackles for loss (15.5) and ranked second in sacks (nine). Both totals were career highs.