HOUSTON — Ten defensive and two offensive players comprise the list of 12 semifinalists for the 41st Rotary Lombardi Award to be held December 8, 2010, at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston.

The semifinalists were announced today at a kickoff event at Academy Sports & Outdoors in Houston, Texas.

The Big 10 Conference leads the pack with four players, followed by the Big 12 with three, the SEC and the ACC with two each and one from the Mountain West.

Lombardi Award semifinalists

Sam Acho, Defensive End, Texas, 6-3, 260, Sr., Dallas, TX

Jeremy Beal, Defensive End, Oklahoma, 6-3, 267, Sr. Carrollton, TX

Da’quan Bowers, Defensive End, Clemson, 6-4, 275, Jr., Bamberg, SC

Adrian Clayborn, Defensive End, Iowa, 6-4, 285, Sr., St. Louis, MO

Jared Crick, Defensive Tackle, Nebraska, 6-6, 285, Jr., Cozad, NE

Nick Fairley, Defensive Line, Auburn, 6-5, 298, Jr., Mobile, AL

Cameron Heyward, Defensive Tackle, Ohio State, 6-5, 288, Sr., Suwanee, GA

Rodney Hudson, Offensive Guard, Florida State, 6-2, 282, Sr., Mobile, AL

Greg Jones, Linebacker, Michigan State, 6-1, 240, Sr., Cincinnati, OH

Ryan Kerrigan, Defensive End, Purdue, 6-4, 263, Sr., Muncie, IN

Jake Kirkpatrick, Center, TCU, 6-3, 305, Sr., Tyler, TX

Drake Nevis, Defensive Tackle, LSU, 6-5, 285, Sr., Marrero, LA