CONTACT: Steve Mullen (518) 629-8063
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Friday, December 1, 2006
Rutgers Senior Among Six Finalists for Nation's Premier Award for Centers
Former Hudson Valley Community College football player Darnell Stapleton is one of six finalists for the Rimington Trophy, an award given annually to the nation's top collegiate centers.
Stapleton is a two-year starter at Rutgers University, helping pave the way for one of college football's top rushing attacks. The Scarlet Knight also have allowed just eight sacks, which ranks first among all NCAA Division IA schools.
Joining Stapleton as finalists are Mark Bihl (University of Michigan), Doug Datish (Ohio State University), Ryan Kalil (University of Southern California), Jonathan Luigs (University of Arkansas) and Dan Mozes (West Virginia University).
The award winner will be announced during The Home Depot College Football Awards show, broadcast live from Orlando, Florida on ESPN on Thursday, December 7, 2006.
Originally from Union, N.J., Stapleton received his associate's degree in Liberal Arts and Science: Humanities and Social Science from Hudson Valley in 2005 with a grade-point average higher than 3.0.