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At least one Tiger will have a shot at a major postseason award, with Monday’s announcement that junior center Will Clapp will be among the three finalists for the Dave Rimington Trophy.
Clapp joins Alabama’s Bradley Bozeman and Ohio State’s Billy Price as the finalists for the award given to the top center in the country. The award will be a part of ESPN’s televised ceremony for the major awards, sans the Heisman Trophy, Thursday night at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.
Clapp has started at three different positions over the last three years. The New Orleans, Louisiana has started 35-straight games throughout his career. Clapp has helped pave the way for Derrius Guice and Darrel Williams this season. They became the third duo in school history to feature a 1,000-yard rusher and 700-yard rusher in one season.
Guice this season rushed for 276 yards against Ole Miss and became the first player in Southeastern Conference history to rush for more than 250 yards in three games in a career. Clapp has also led the way for Guice’s 2,976 career yards, which are the fifth-most in school history.
Clapp has also led the way in protection for senior quarterback Danny Etling. Etling surpassed more than 4,000 career yards at LSU this season and has thrown for more than 2,000 yards in back-to-back seasons.
“Will is deserving of this honor,” LSU offensive line coach Jeff Grimes said. “He is talented, intelligent and has a tremendous work ethic. All of these physical and mental attributes contribute to his success on the field. However, his love for the game and diligence in preparation are the things that set him apart from other players. Will does the things it takes to be considered one of the very best in the country.”
The winner will be recognized at the Rimington Trophy Presentation at the Rococo Theatre in Lincoln, Nebraska on Saturday, January 13, 2018.
Clapp is a fourth-year junior from Brother Martin High School in New Orleans, and the second consecutive Tiger center to be a finalist for the Rimington Award. Ethan Pocic was a finalist last year.