Ribordy named to 2017 Rimington Spring Watch List

By Andy Brown
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Updated: May 22, 2017

Jeff Jacobsen / Kansas Athletics

University of Kansas center Mesa Ribordy (69) was named to the 2017 Rimington Trophy Spring Watch List on Monday. Ribordy, a Louisburg High School graduate, was a fixture on the Jayhawk offensive line last season.

LAWRENCE – Two years ago, he walked on to the University of Kansas football team hoping to land a spot at tight end.

Two years later, Mesa Ribordy is being considered as one of the top centers in Division I football.

Ribordy, a 2015 Louisburg High School graduate, was named to the 2017 Rimington Trophy Spring Watch List on Monday, according to a release put out by the school.

According to the release, the committee accepted nominations from programs across the country that submitted their current starting centers for consideration. This preseason, at least one player from each conference was nominated, with the MAC leading at nine student-athletes selected and the Big 12 and SEC following with eight each, respectively.

Mesa Ribordy

The Rimington Trophy is presented annually to the Most Outstanding Center in NCAA Division I-A College Football. Since its inception, the Rimington Trophy has raised over $2.9 million for the cystic fibrosis community. The award is overseen by the Boomer Esiason Foundation, which is committed to finding a cure for cystic fibrosis and has raised over $130 million for the fight against cystic fibrosis.

The center with the most first team votes will be determined the winner. If there is a tie with first team votes, then the center with the most second team votes will win. If there is still a tie, the winner will be determined by a majority vote from the Rimington Trophy committee. The winner will be recognized at the Rimington Trophy Presentation at the Rococo Theatre in Lincoln, Neb., on Jan. 13, 2018.

Ribordy played a big part in the Jayhawk offensive line as a freshman. He started the season at guard, before moving to center for the final five games.

Ribordy didn’t record a bad snap in those five games and posted 27 knock-down blocks in his 11 games. At center, he was in charge of coordinating protection schemes and missed a team-low 10 assignments in his 800 plays last season.

The 6-foot-4, 305-pound lineman will lead the Jayhawk offensive line this coming season. The Jayhawks open the season on Sept. 2 when they host Southeast Missouri State.