Oliver Grigg

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas’ Ricky Stromberg is one of 40 players on the preseason watch list for the Rimington Trophy, which is presented annually to the nation’s most outstanding center.

The Tulsa, Okla., native anchored Arkansas’ offensive line last season, starting all 13 games at center and blocking for an offense that led all Power 5 schools in rushing with an average of 227.8 yards per game. Stromberg, who totaled 873 snaps on the year, only gave up three sacks and was penalized just eight times all season.

Behind Stromberg’s blocking, four Razorbacks rushed for at least 500 yards in 2021 – a feat that had not been accomplished at Arkansas since 1975. He was part of an offensive line that blocked for three games of 300+ yards of rushing (Texas, Ole Miss and Penn State) and two games of 600+ yards of total offense (Georgia Southern and Ole Miss).

At the year’s end, Stromberg earned All-SEC second-team honors from the AP and was tabbed to the All-SEC Third Team by Pro Football Focus and Phil Steele. He enters 2022 with preseason All-America and All-SEC praise from Phil Steele.

Stromberg, who is one of six SEC centers included on the preseason watch list, is vying to become the second Razorback in history to win the award. Jonathan Luigs won the Rimington Trophy as college football’s most outstanding center in 2007 after helping Arkansas lead the SEC and rank fourth in the nation in rushing (286.5) by blocking for the duo of Darren McFadden (1,830 yards, 16 TD) and Felix Jones (1,162 yards, 11 TD).

The Rimington Trophy committee uses these three prestigious All-America teams to determine a winner: Walter Camp Foundation, Sporting News and Football Writers Association of America. 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, provided with data from PFF.

Arkansas kicks off the season at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3, against Cincinnati on ESPN. Season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by clicking here or by calling the Razorback Ticket Center at (479) 575-5151.