University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Rob Petitti Named to Outland Trophy Watch List
5/27/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Rob Petitti Named to Outland Trophy Watch List
5/27/2003
Rob Petitti |
University of Pittsburgh junior offensive tackle Rob Petitti has been named to the 36-player Outland Trophy Watch List announced today by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA).
The Outland Trophy annually goes to college football?s top interior lineman. Tackles, centers and offensive and defensive guards are eligible. The FWAA All-America Committee selects the winner with input from the membership.
Petitti (Rumson, N.J./Rumson-Fair Haven Regional) is one of the country?s rising offensive line talents. A 2002 All-Big East Conference selection, Petitti was one of just two sophomore offensive linemen to earn All-Big East status last year. He enters his third season as a starter at left tackle and has started 25 consecutive contests.
As a redshirt freshman in 2001, Petitti was selected Pittsburgh?s Most Valuable Offensive Lineman and was also named to the Football News All-Freshman Team and The Sporting News Freshman All-America Team. He served notice of his talents that season when he held Syracuse All-American Dwight Freeney to zero sacks. It was the first time in 15 games Freeney, now of the Indianapolis Colts, was held without a sack.
The winner of the 2003 Outland Trophy will be announced Dec. 11 on the ESPN College Football Awards Show from Orlando, Fla. Three finalists will be selected by the FWAA All-America Committee in late November and will appear on the show. The winner also will receive his trophy during a banquet on Jan. 8 in Omaha, Neb. The banquet is sponsored by the Omaha Sports Committee, and will honor 1987 Outland winner Chad Hennings.
Petitti is one of 17 returning starters for Pittsburgh, which finished 9-4 and No. 18 in the country last year. The Panthers are already receiving recognition as one of the top teams in the country. CBS Sportsline listed Pittsburgh No. 8 nationally in its post-spring practice poll, Athlon ranks the Panthers No. 9, CNN/Sports Illustrated rates them No. 12 and The Sporting News listed Pittsburgh among 13 favorites to play in the 2004 Sugar Bowl for the national championship.
Season-ticket packages are available by calling (800) 643-PITT.
The following 36 players make up the 2003 Outland Trophy Watch List:
Tim Anderson, DL, Ohio State
Shawn Andrews, OT, Arkansas
Calvin Armstrong, OT, Washington St.
Jason Babin, DL, Western Michigan
Darnell Dockett, DT, Florida State
Nat Dorsey, OT, Georgia Tech
Rob Droege, OL, Missouri
Louis Gachelin, DT, Syracuse
Todd Ghilani, C, Northern Illinois
Jake Grove, C, Virginia Tech
Rex Hadnot, C, Houston
Tommie Harris, DT, Oklahoma
Joseph Hayes, OG, San Jose State
Howard Hodges, DL, Iowa
Trevor Hutton, OG, Utah State
Richie Incognito, C, Nebraska
Carlos Joseph, OT, Miami, Fla.
Jason Kaufusi, DL, Utah
Brandon Kennedy, DT, North Texas
Nick Leckey, OL, Kansas State
Logan Mankins, OT, Fresno State
Matt Martinez, C, Idaho
Nate McPeek, OL, Marshall
Shane Olivea, OT, Ohio State
Tony Pape, OT, Michigan
Rob Petitti, OT, Pittsburgh
Brady Poppinga, DL, BYU
Brian Rimpf, OT, East Carolina
Jacob Rogers, OT, USC
Darrion Scott, DL, Ohio State
Isaac Sopoaga,, DT, Hawaii
Max Starks, OT, Florida
Ben Stephens, C, Rice
Claude Terrell, OL, New Mexico
Marcus Tubbs, DT, Texas
Dan Weaver, C, Oregon
