Scooby Wright Wins 2014 Lombardi Award: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

Arizona linebacker Scooby Wright was named the 2014 Lombardi Award winner Wednesday, which is given annually to college football's best offensive lineman, defensive lineman or linebacker.

Wright was one of four finalists, coming out ahead of Ohio State defensive lineman Joey Bosa, Washington linebacker Hau'oli Kikaha and Clemson defensive end Vic Beasley.

The sophomore linebacker emerged as perhaps the best defensive player in college football in 2014, making 89 tackles and 14 sacks while leading Arizona to a surprise 10-3 regular season. Wright was one of a few shining lights on a defense that at times struggled to maintain consistent production.

The Pac-12 already honored him with its Defensive Player of the Year Award, and this week, Wright was named Bronko Nagurski Award winner as the nation's top defensive player

"Coming out of high school I didn't really have too many colleges knocking on my door—actually nobody really wanted me except Arizona," Wright, a lightly touted recruit, told reporters. "So I always have that little chip on my shoulder. You always remember those people who didn't think you were good enough. It still motivates me to this day."

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Wright is the first player in Arizona history to win the Lombardi Award and second to take home the Nagurski. The last 10 Nagurski winners have gone on to be selected in the first two rounds of the NFL draft. The last Lombardi winner to not be selected in the first two rounds was Virginia Tech's Corey Moore, who won the award before the turn of the century.

While Wright will have to wait to play on Sundays—as a true sophomore, he's ineligible to enter the draft—he's unquestionably come a long way from a kid who had one FBS offer. Arizona fans will be eager to see what he can do for an encore next season.

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