2025 Lombardi Award™ Finalists Announced

HOUSTON – The Lombardi Award™ Committee proudly announces the four finalists for the 2025 Lombardi Award™: David Bailey, Texas Tech University; Cashius Howell, Texas A&M University; Kadyn Proctor, University of Alabama; and Jacob Rodriguez, Texas TechUniversity. Selected from a preseason watchlist of more than 50 players representing all FBS conferences and independents, these outstanding athletes exemplify the highest standards of character, discipline, and excellence both on and off the field.  

Established in 1970 by the Rotary Club of Houston in memory of legendary coach Vince Lombardi, the Lombardi Award™ honors the nation’s top college linemen and linebackers who reflect Lombardi’s enduring principles of leadership, integrity, and perseverance.  

Now in its 52nd year, the Lombardi Award™ has been presented annually in Houston, Texas, since its inception. This year’s winner will be announced at the award dinner and ceremony on December 10, 2025, at the Hilton Americas – Houston.  

Net proceeds from gala sponsorships and table sales benefit cancer research, a cause deeply rooted in the Lombardi Award™ legacy.  

Additional information on tickets, tables, and sponsorship packages is available HERE. 

Finalists Bios 

David Bailey, Texas Tech University  

David Bailey is one of the most dominant defensive forces in college football this season, leading the FBS with 12.5 sacks and ranking among the national leaders with 16 tackles for loss. He has posted at least one sack in nine of 11 games, combining for 10.0 sacksduring Big 12 play, and leads the nation with 71 total pressures, earning multiple National Defensive Player of the Week honors. A high-impact transfer from Stanford and projected NFL first-round pick, Bailey has climbed to fourth on Texas Tech’s single-season sacks list and ranks tied for third among active FBS players for career sacks. A preseason All-Big 12 selection and semifinalist for several national awards, he has delivered elite, game-changing production for the Red Raiders. 

Cashius Howell, Texas A&M University

Cashius Howell is one of the nation’s most dominant pass rushers, leading the country with 1.15 sacks per game and ranking among the top 15 in tackles for loss this season. A relentless force off the edge, he has generated 38 quarterback pressures, and his 11.5 sacks are the most by an Aggie in a season since Myles Garrett matched that mark in 2014. Howell is also the first Texas A&M player to earn four SEC Defensive Line Player of the Week honors after a standout performance at Missouri featuring five tackles, a strip-sack, and a quarterback hurry. He is just the sixth SEC player to receive the award four times since it began in 2004, underscoring his status as one of the league’s elite defenders. 

Kadyn Proctor, University of Alabama 

Kadyn Proctor is a three-year starter and an imposing presence on Alabama’s offensive line, earning the starting nod at left tackle in all nine games this season. He entered 2025 as a preseason First-Team All-American, has accumulated numerous knockdown blocks, and has added four rushes for 15 yards and three first downs. Proctor earned both Outland Trophy Player of the Week and SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors for his performance at Georgia. A former five-star recruit and one of the nation’s top offensive tackle prospects, he is widely projected to be an early selection in the 2026 NFL Draft. 

Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech University 

Jacob Rodriguez is the nation’s top inside linebacker, leading all FBS defenders with seven forced fumbles while anchoring one of the country’s most dominant defenses. A former high school quarterback, he brings that same field vision to the Red Raiders defense, excelling both against the run and in coverage. The Big 12 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and an All-American candidate, Rodriguez has had his hand in 19 career takeaways, including nine in Big 12 play this season. He ranks second among active FBS players with 13 career forced fumbles and is one of only two players since 2005, alongside Khalil Mack, to record at least five forced fumbles, three interceptions, and two fumble recoveries in a single season.