Army West Point Athletics
Football’s Small and Gennarelli Named to Lombardi Award Midseason Watch List
October 15, 2026 | Football
The Lombardi Award honors the best lineman in FBS football, regardless of side of the ball. Tight ends and linebackers are also eligible for the award. The players selected were evaluated based on their performances during the 2026 season to date, as well as their potential impact through the remainder of the campaign.
This year's list features a balanced mix of offensive and defensive standouts, from dominant tackles and guards to elite linebackers and ends, representing powerhouse programs nationwide.
The Lombardi Award™, presented annually to the nation's best college offensive or defensive lineman, will once again be awarded at a ceremony in Houston, Texas, on December 9, 2026. Celebrating its 53rd anniversary, the Lombardi Award™ has been presented in Houston, Texas, since its establishment in 1970.
It is presented to outstanding linemen and linebackers who best epitomize his values of leadership, courage, performance, and discipline on and off the field. Furthermore, the watchlist includes players who are consistently showing the values of strength, agility, and football acumen in their respective positions. Net proceeds from gala sponsorships, table sales and surrounding events are dedicated to supporting cancer research.
Of the 60 athletes named to the list, Small and Gennarelli serve as the only American Conference players. Both Small and Gennarelli started on the 2024 offensive line which won the Joe Moore Award.Thanks to the offensive line's blocking efforts, Army's 333.2 yards per game on the ground rank first in both FBS and the American Conference. The line also guided quarterback Cale Hellums vs. Tulane in Week 6, with the signal-caller rushing for a pair of scores and collecting a career-high 223 rushing yards with a pair of touchdowns. His game-tying 58-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter was also his longest career rush.
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Army West Point Athletic Association, Inc. (AWPAA)
AWPAA is an IRS code 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation established to execute the United States Military Academy's intercollegiate athletics program. AWPAA is led by a board of directors that provides guidance to the director of athletics, who serves as the primary advisor to the USMA Superintendent and the USMA leadership on all NCAA operations. The AWPAA mission is to recruit, educate, train and inspire leaders of character who are committed to the Army values through an extraordinary Division I athletic experience.
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