University of Massachusets Athletics
Sparks Garners Rimington Trophy Watch List Spot
July 08, 2015 | Football
Rimington Trophy Watch List | 2015 UMass Football Ticket Information
NEW YORK - University of Massachusetts football rising-senior Matt Sparks was chosen among 63 centers from around NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) for recognition on the 2015 Rimington Trophy Watch List, as announced by the Rimington Trophy Committee Wednesday. Sparks is one of seven centers present from the Mid-American Conference and previously appeared on the Rimington Trophy Spring Watch List, which was unveiled on May 19, 2015.
Sparks owns 21 starts at center over 29 career appearances during his three completed seasons as a Minuteman. He guided the UMass line as the offense produced 27.3 points and 421.1 total offensive yards per game as a team in 2014. Sparks' experience also assisted the squad as it earned the 11th-most passing yards per game (311.8) across NCAA Division I.
The Rimington Trophy is presented annually to the most outstanding center in NCAA Division I FBS. Since its inception, the Rimington Trophy has raised over $2.6 million for the cystic fibrosis community. The fourteen-year old award is overseen by the Boomer Esiason Foundation, which is committed to finding a cure for cystic fibrosis and has raised more than $115 million toward research.
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 double winner as the nation's finest college interior lineman.
Sparks is the sixth Minuteman named to a major NCAA Division I FBS award watch list since UMass moved to NCAA Division I FBS competition. Punter Colter Johnson (Ray Guy Award) and offensive tackle Anthony Dima (Outland Trophy) picked up watch list status in 2013. Wide receiver Tajae Sharpe (Biletnikoff Award) and tight end Jean Sifrin (John Mackey Award) added watch list recognition as midseason additions during the 2014 campaign. Classmate Jovan Santos-Knox earned a spot on the 2015 Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List (top defensive player nationally).
UMass and head coach Mark Whipple begin the 2015 season with a 2 p.m. contest at the University of Colorado on Saturday, Sept. 12. Ticket information is available through UMassAthletics.com.
Minutemen On 2015 Major College Football Award Watch Lists
Jovan Santos-Knox -- Bednarik Award (National Defensive Player of the Year)
Matt Sparks -- Rimington Trophy (Top Center)
