MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State senior offensive lineman Cody Whitehair was one of 34 players nationally to be added to the watch list for the 2015 Rotary Lombardi Award during the award’s final update, the Rotary Lombardi Award Committee announced Tuesday.

Whitehair is now a member of the Lombardi Award watch list for a second-consecutive season, while his honor marks the sixth Wildcat to be up for the award since 2012.

A product of Abilene, Kansas, Whitehair picked up Preseason All-America and All-Big 12 honors entering 2015 after starting 38 of his 39 career games, including all 13 games at left tackle in 2014. He was an integral part of a 2014 K-State offensive that tallied 30 rushing touchdowns, the 10th most in school history. The Wildcat offense ranked in the top 25 in nine categories, including team passing efficiency (11th), red zone offense (14th) and passing offense (16th).

Eligibility for the Rotary Lombardi Award is limited to down linemen, end-to-end, either on offense or defense, who set up no farther than 10 yards to the left or right of the ball, or linebackers who set up no farther than five yards deep from the line up scrimmage.

Semifinalist for the award will be chosen on November 5, while finalists will be announced on November 19. The 46th Rotary Lombardi Award winner will be announced on December 9, at the Bayou Music Center in Houston, Texas.

Kansas State opens the 2015 season next Saturday, September 5, with a 6:10 p.m., contest against South Dakota.

— K-State Athletics —