LSU's Dorsey Wins National Honors
Decision Leads to Outland Lombardi Nagurski Lott Awards
Defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey's return for his senior year paid off with four national honors, SEC recognition, and a second consecutive berth on The AP All-America team.
LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey bypassed a chance to be a first-round pick in the NFL draft to return for his senior season in 2007.
Not only did Dorsey likely improve the financial gain he will realize at the next level, but his decision has paid dividends in terms of postseason awards.
Besides being named the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Dorsey has won four even more prestigious national honors.
In all, Dorsey has won the Outland Trophy, the Lombardi Award, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Lott Trophy. He is the most decorated defender in school history and second in terms of national honors to Billy Cannon, who won the 1959 Heisman Trophy.
Furthermore, Dorsey joined Cannon as one of only four players in school history to make The Associated Press All-America first team in back-to-back seasons. The others are Tommy Casanova and Gaynell Tinsley.
The Outland honored Dorsey as college’s best interior lineman. The Lombardi recognized him as the top lineman or linebacker. The Nagurski went to Dorsey as the leading defensive player, and the Lott was given for his efforts on and off the field.
“It’s a huge honor to be named the best lineman in the country…,” Dorsey said after wining the Lombardi Award. “I am humbled to think that I would be chosen.”
Dorsey was the first LSU player since Ronnie Estay in 1971 to make the list of finalists for the Lombardi Award.
The Rotary Lombardi Award was founded in the weeks following the 1970 death from cancer of legendary NFL coach Vince Lombardi. His widow, Marie, stipulated only that all net proceeds from the event be donated to the American Cancer Society.
Despite continually being double- and triple-teamed, and battling knee and back pain for the last month, Dorsey was LSU’s third-leading tackler with 64 total stops through 13 games. He recorded six quarterback sacks, 11.5 stops for losses, four quarterback hurries and three deflected passes.
LSU was among the national defensive leaders all season and through 13 games was holding opponents to an average of 283.8 yards total offense and 19.6 points per game.
With Dorsey’s help, SEC champion LSU advanced to the Bowl Championship Series title game against Ohio State in the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans.
Ohio State’s James Laurinaitus was one of three players Dorsey edged for the Lombardi Award. The others were Virginia defensive end Chris Long and Michigan offensive lineman Jake Long.
Dorsey also topped Laurinaitus and Long for the Nagurski Trophy. South Florida’s George Selvie and Kansas’ Aqib Talib were the other finalists.
Dorsey joins select company in winning the 15-year-old Nagurski Trophy. Past honorees include standouts Warren Sapp, Charles Woodson, Champ Bailey and Roy Williams.
In addition, the awards banquet helped raise money to recognize the recipients of regional high school and college scholarships through the Charlotte Touchdown Club Scholarship Foundation.
