College football is upon us and the preseason awards season is coming to a close. On Friday, the Rimington Trophy nominees list was released and six Big Ten centers were honored.
Each year, the Rimington Trophy is awarded to the best center in the country. This year, the committee worked with Pro Football Focus to narrow its list down to just 40 names for the 2024 season. The Big Ten’s six names were the third-most of any conference.
During the first week, the Maxwell Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Outland Trophy, Jim Thorpe Award, Paul Hornung Award, Wuerffel Trophy, Ray Gay Award and Lou Groza Award were announced. Before the Rimington Trophy watch list was announced, the watch lists for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, Doak Walker Award, Biletnikoff Award, Davey O’Brien Award and Mackey Award had already been released.
Six Big Ten centers honored on Rimington Trophy Watchlist
Logan Jones, Iowa
Logan Jones began his career at Iowa on the defensive line. After two years, Jones moved to the offensive line ahead of the 2022 season. He won the starting spot at center and started all 13 games for the Hawkeyes. Last year, Jones started all 13 games at center and was named to the Third-Team All-Big Ten.
Jones is also a preseason First-Team All-Big Ten selection by both Phil Steele And Athlon Sport matching his placements on the Rimington Trophy and Outland Trophy watch lists.
Jonah Monheim, USC
Jonah Monheim, a tackle turned center, is a fifth-year senior and returning captain for the Trojans. He was the first USC freshman to start as a tackle in 2021. In his career, Monheim has started 34 games: 18 as a right tackle, 12 as a left tackle and four as a right guard. He was named to the All-Pac-12 second team last year.
Gus Hartwig, Purdue
Gus Hartwig, a four-time All-Big Ten honorable mention, is looking to finally earn a higher-level team honor this year. Over the course of his career, Hartwig has made 36 starts and appeared in three more. As a true freshman in 2020, he became the first true freshman to start for the Boilermakers since 2008. Last season, Hartwig was a key part of leading the Boilermakers in conference play in rushing in the Big Ten.
Last year he was a semifinalist for the Campbell Trophy and a nominee for the Werffel Trophy for his achievements on the field, in the community and in the classroom.
Iapani Laloulu, Oregon
Iapani Laloulu is probably the youngest player on the 40-man Rimington Trophy watch list and a true sophomore for Oregon. Laloulu was a highly versatile member of the Ducks’ rotation last year, logging 413 snaps in total. 183 of those snaps were at right guard, 116 at left guard and 111 at center.
Laloulu made his first career start in the Fiesta Bowl win over Liberty, allowing just one pressure in 39 pass-blocking snaps (65 total).
Seth McLaughlin, Ohio State
Seth McLaughlin is playing his fifth season of college football and is already a graduate. He graduated Summa Cum Laude with a 4.00 grade point average from Alabama in two and a half years and received his master’s degree last December. While at Alabama, he started 24 games for the Crimson Tide over the last three seasons.
He is currently expected to play center for the Buckeyes, but he is not ruled out moving to right guard to bring the “five best linemen” onto the field.
Ben Scott, Nebraska
After all, Ben Scott was a member of the Arizona State Sun Devils for three seasons before manning the Cornhuskers’ offensive line last year. With the Sun Devils, Scott started every possible game but one in 2022. He came to Nebraska with 28 starting games under his belt.
In his first season with the Huskers, Scott started 11 games and appeared in one additional game, earning him honorable mention All-Big Ten honors.
