2018 Preseason Award Projections: Rimington Trophy

By Charlie Campbell
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Heading into the 2018 college football season, WalterFootball.com will debut our projections for the nation’s leaders during the fall. The All-American teams always have some surprises, and the next fall’s stars could be the headline players next May for the 2019 NFL Draft. We also will project the winners of the postseason awards that are given out to the best of college football.

The Rimington Award is given to the top center in college football. Six years ago, I predicted that Alabama center Barrett Jones would win the Riminigton Trophy and he brought home the award. Five years ago, I said I was less confident, but I still got it right with Florida State’s Bryan Stork. Four years ago, I made it three straight years of getting it right with Auburn’s Reese Dismukes. Three years ago, my streak ended when Alabama’s Ryan Kelly won the award. My prediction was Notre Dame’s Nick Martin, who ended up being drafted in the second round, a round behind Kelly. Last year, Ohio State center Billy Price won the award.

Rimington Award Winner:

Elgton Jenkins, Mississippi State

Jenkins is an athletic and quick interior blocker who has been very impressive for the Bulldogs over the past two seasons. Sources who have done some advance work for 2019 say that Jenkins has impressed them and possesses early-round potential. Jenkins has good size to be a starting center in the NFL, and it will be interesting to see how he handles the change in offense under the new Mississippi State coaching staff. With a good quarterback behind him, Jenkins should not go under the radar playing top competition in the SEC. I think Jenkins is the best center in college football, and if he stays healthy, I believe he has to be the heavy favorite for the Rimington Award.




Riminigton Runner-Up:

Sam Mustipher, Notre Dame

Mustipher (6-2, 305) would be rated higher as an NFL prospect if he were taller and had more length. As it stands, his size limits in how he will be graded for the next level. That being said, Mustipher played well and was an impressive blocker for Notre Dame in 2017. He opened a lot of holes in the ground game and was steady in pass protection. Even though Quenton Nelson and Mike McGlinchey have moved on to the NFL, the Fighting Irish still possess talent on the offensive line, and Mustipher should impress voters as a senior. He definitely has a real shot at winning the Rimington Award.




Riminigton Dark Horse:

Connor McGovern, Penn State

McGovern was a quality run blocker for Penn State in 2017, helping to open a lot of holes for Saquon Barkley. In pass protection, McGovern was generally a reliable protector for Trace McSorley. The 6-foot-5, 312-pound McGovern has good height and length to him. He should have a strong senior year opening holes in the ground game and should get noticed. He could end up winning the Rimington Award

Honorable Mentions: Oregon’s Jake Hansen, Nevada’s Sean Krepsz, Florida State’s Alec Eberle, Florida’s T.J. McCoy, Ole Miss’ Sean Rawlings, Minnesota’s Jared Weyler and Marshall’s Levi Brown.











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