Stapley Named to Rimington Watch List
NEW YORK, N.Y. — Kyle Stapley, a junior center for The University of New Mexico, has been named to the 2019 preseason Rimington Trophy Watch List. The Rimington Trophy is awarded to the nation’s top center each year, and this is the 20th year of the award.
Stapley, who joined UNM last year as a JC transfer from Snow College, had never played center before, but took nearly every snap for UNM last year. He was a part of 806 snaps, all from the shotgun, with no snaps under center. According to Pro Football Focus, Stapley was 802 of 806 on shotgun snaps without a sack allowed or a penalty.
Stapley is one of five Mountain West centers on the initial list of 81 for the Rimington.
The Rimington Trophy is presented annually to the most outstanding center in NCAA Division I College Football. Since its inception, the 20-year old award has raised over $4.2 million for the Boomer Esiason Foundation, which is committed to finding a cure for cystic fibrosis.
Dave Rimington, the award’s namesake, was a consensus first-team All-America center at the University of Nebraska in 1981 and 1982, during which time he became the John Outland Trophy’s only two-time winner as the nation’s finest college interior lineman. For more on the Rimington Trophy and a list of past recipients, visit www.rimingtontrophy.com
The Rimington Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 25 awards now boast over 800 recipients, dating to 1935. Visit ncfaa.org to learn more about the association.