Bellore Named to Lombardi Award Watch List

MOUNT PLEASANT - Central Michigan University senior linebacker Nick Bellore has been named to the official watch list for the 2010 Lombardi Award.

Nick Bellore, originally named to the preliminary watch list in the spring, is one of 87 players named to the official watch list.

Eligibility for the Rotary Lombardi Award is limited to down linemen, end-to-end, either on offense or defense, who set up no farther than 10 yards to the left or right of the ball, or linebackers who set up no farther than five yards deep from the line of scrimmage.

The watch list will be narrowed to 12 semifinalists in November.

Bellore also is a member of the watch list for the Nagurski Trophy, presented to college football's top defensive player.

A starter in all 41 games of his college career, Bellore enters his senior season with 382 total tackles. He ranks seventh in school history in tackles, just 108 stops shy of the school record. He is a two-time All-MAC first team selection and has been named the Chippewas' most valuable defensive player each of the last two seasons.

Bellore recently was selected by his teammates as one of the Chippewas' three co-captains for the 2010 season. This is the third straight season he has been elected a captain.

Central Michigan opens the 2010 season Thursday against Hampton at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.