Wendell Bryant, a senior defensive tackle with the Wisconsin football team, has been selected as one of 12 semifinalists for the 2001 Rotary Lombardi Award, which is presented annually to the best lineman (offense or defense) in college football.

Bryant is a semifinalist for the second consecutive year. He is joined on this season’s semifinalist list by the following 11 players: Alex Brown, DE, Florida; Rocky Calmus, LB, Oklahoma; Kalimba Edwards, LB, South Carolina; Dwight Freeney, DE, Syracuse; Toniu Fonoti, OG, Nebraska; Joaquin Gonzalez, OT, Miami (Fla.); John Henderson, DT, Tennessee; Bryant McKinnie, OT, Miami (Fla.); Julius Peppers, DE, North Carolina; Robert Thomas, LB, UCLA; and Larry Tripplett, DT, Washington.

Bryant, a 6-4, 302-pounder from St. Louis, Mo., leads the Big Ten in quarterback sacks with eight and is tied for second in the conference in tackles for loss with 15.

The list of 12 semifinalists will be reduced to four finalists during the week of Nov. 11. The four finalists and their head coaches will be flown to Houston on Dec. 4 for myriad activities in Houston, which include visits to local hospitals and area youth groups. The culmination of their activities in Houston will be the black tie dinner at the J.W. Marriott Hotel on Dec. 5, where the 32nd recipient of The Rotary Lombardi Award will be revealed.

Dom Capers, head coach of the Houston Texans will be the featured speaker, while longtime Houston broadcaster Ron Stone will serve as the Master of Ceremonies.

(UW SID Release)