Houston, Texas-----From a preseason watch list of 145 outstanding linemen, linebackers and tight ends, San Jose State University defensive end Travis Johnson is one of 25 quarterfinalists for the 2012 Rotary Lombardi Award.

            The award is given to the college football lineman who combines outstanding performance and ability and exemplifies the discipline of the legendary Green Bay Packers two-time Super Bowl winning coach Vince Lombardi, who first gained fame as one of Fordham University football's "Seven Blocks of Granite" in the 1930's.

            Heading into the October 13 Homecoming game and Western Athletic Conference opener against Utah State, the 244-pound senior is the only player in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) to rank in the top-three in quarterback sacks (2^nd) and tackles for loss (tied for 2^nd). Johnson's 7.5 sacks this season give him 26.5 for his career and ranks the Spartan co-captain first among active players.

            Johnson is the first San Jose State player to advance to quarterfinal status in the 43 years of the award.

            The fourth year Spartan also is the only player from a non-Bowl Championship Series conference listed among the 25 remaining candidates for the award.  Six of the 25 quarterfinalists are offensive linemen; four are linebackers; and 15 are defensive linemen.

            Johnson was one of three Spartans on the Rotary Lombardi Award preseason Watch List. Offensive tackle David Quessenberry and linebacker Keith Smith made the Watch List.

            Seven semifinalists, tabbed as the 2012 "Seven Blocks of Granite," will be named at the end of October. Four finalists will be announced in November with the 2012 Rotary Lombardi Award winner named on December 5.

2012 Rotary Lombardi Award quarterfinalists:

Chris Borland, Wisconsin, LB
Arthur Brown, Kansas State, LB
Cornellius Carradine, Florida State, DL
Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina, DE
Jonathan Cooper, North Carolina, OG
D.J. Fluker, Alabama, OT
William Gholston, Michigan State, DE
Johnathan Hankins, Ohio State, DT
Khaled Holmes, USC, C
Jackson Jeffcoat, Texas, DE
Travis Johnson, San Jose State, DE
Barrett Jones, Alabama, OL
Jarvis Jones, Georgia, OLB
Corey Lemonier, Auburn, DE
Star Lotulelei, Utah, DT
Joe Madsen, West Virginia, C
Barkevious Mingo, LSU, DE
Sam Montgomery, LSU, DE
Damontre Moore, Texas A&M, DL
Alex Okafor, Texas DE
Kawann Short, Purdue, DT
Will Sutton, Arizona State, DL
Manti Te'o, Notre Dame, LB
Chance Warmack, Alabama, OG
Bjoern Werner, Florida State, DE