Published: May 08, 2008 11:19 pm         

WVU center Dent on Rimington watch list

MORGANTOWN — Mike Dent of West Virginia University was named Thursday to the 2008 watch list for the Rimington Trophy, presented annually to the nation’s best center.

The 6-foot-4, 295-pound senior from Jeannette, Pa., started all 13 games last season after taking over the snapper position from consensus All-America standout Dan Mozes who won the Rimington Award in 2006.

Dent earned All-Big East second-team recognition in 2007, helping the Mountaineers to an 11-2 record, a share of the Big East championship, and aa No. 6 national ranking in the final polls. WVU upset No. 3-ranked Oklahoma 48-28 in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl in Arizona.

Quarterback Patrick White and All-America tailback Steve Slaton rushed for more than 1,000 yards each. The offense averaged 6.2 yards per play and 297.2 yards per game rushing. It finished with 456.2 yards per game in total offense.

Dent was credited with 35 knockdowns, including four each against East Carolina, Louisville and Connecticut in Big East contests. He received WVU coaches’ Contribution Award, but sat out spring practice while rehabbing off-season surgery.

In all, 42 players are on the Rimington Award watch list. The list includes two of last year’s finalists as well as 2007 winner Jonathan Luigs of Arkansas.

Besides Dent, four other centers from Big East schools were nominated. Those are senior Keith Gray of Connecticut, senior Eric Wood of Louisville, senior Ryan Blaszcyk of Rutgers, and senior Jake Griffin of South Florida.

Two WVU non-conference opponents also are represented. Those are seniors Jason Bosley of Auburn and Daniel Sanders of Colorado.

The Big 12 has seven players in the Rimington Trophy competition, the Pac-10 six, and the ACC and SEC, like the Big East, five each.

Four prominent All-America teams are used by the selection committee to determine a winner. Those include American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp Foundation, The Sporting News and Football Writers Association of America.

The trophy winner will be honored at the Rimington Trophy presentation banquet in Lincoln, Neb., Jan. 17, 2009.