2012 Lombardi Award Watch List: Alabama Leads All SEC Teams with 6 Members

The Lombardi Award is unique in the sense that it isn't award to a player at a specific position. Instead, the Lombardi Award is given to the nation's top offensive or defensive end-to-end lineman who sets up no farther than 10 yards from the ball, or linebackers who line up no farther than five years from the line of scrimmage.

So, essentially, any offensive lineman, defensive lineman, tight end or linebacker is eligible.

With those parameters in mind, it should come as no shock that Alabama leads the SEC with six players on the watch list, followed by LSU with four and Texas A&M with three. A total of 25 players from 11 SEC schools are represented on the list.

The Crimson Tide boast one of college football's top offensive lines. Three members of the Lombardi Award watch list play on that offensive line: offensive tackle D.J. Fluker, center Barrett Jones and guard Chance Warmack.

Joining the offensive linemen from the Crimson Tide on the list are linebackers Nico Johnson and C.J. Mosley, as well as defensive lineman Jesse Williams.

If you're looking for a favorite from the Alabama group, consider Barrett Jones the top contender. He is moving from tackle to center, was a semifinalist for the award last season as a tackle and is widely regarded as the most versatile interior lineman in college football.

LSU defensive ends Sam Montgomery and Barkevious Mingo were listed, along with offensive linemen Alex Hurst and Chris Faulk.

Noticeably missing on the list from LSU's roster is Bennie Logan. This is Logan's second watch-list snub. The rising junior tallied 57 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and three sacks in 2011.

Logan's stats may not compare to some of the other defensive tackles, but his work on the interior of that Tiger defensive line frees up Montgomery and Mingo to pressure the quarterback.

Follow @BarrettSallee