Temple University Athletics
TEMPLE'S DAN KLECKO NAMED TO 2002 OUTLAND TROPHY WATCH LIST
8.12.02 | Football
The Outland watch list is the third watch list Klecko has been named to this preseason. His name has also been placed on the watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, awarded annually to the nation's top defensive college player and the Rotary Lombardi Award, presented annually to the nation's top lineman, offensive or defensive, or defensive player lining up within five yards of the football.
Klecko (6-1, 276) was a unanimous All-Big East First Team selection last year after making 62 tackles (40 solo), 19.5 tackles-for-loss, 6.5 sacks and 27 quarterback hurries. The All-America candidate is the conference's only unanimous all-league choice returning on defense and one of three unanimous returnees overall (Miami quarterback Ken Dorsey and place kicker Todd Sievers). In strength and conditioning testing, Klecko has recorded a 520-pound bench press, a 645-pound squat, a 315-pound power clean and a 34.5-inch vertical jump.
Klecko is one of 11 Big East student-athletes on the Outland Trophy watch list. He is joined by Pittsburgh OG Bryan Anderson, Miami OG Sherko Haji-Rasouli, Hurricane DT William Joseph, Boston College C Dan Koppen, West Virginia OT Lance Nimmo, Boston College OG Mark Parenteau, Miami C Brett Romberg, Syracuse C Nick Romeo, West Virginia NT David Upchurch and Miami DT Matt Walters.
The winner of the 2002 Outland Trophy will be announced Dec. 12 on the ESPN College Football Awards Show from Orlando, Fla. Three finalists will be selected by the FWAA All-America Committee in late November and will appear on the show.
The Outland Trophy has been presented every year since 1946 and is the third oldest award in major-college football. The award is named after the late John Outland, an All-America lineman at Penn during the turn of the century.
Temple, under the direction of fifth-year head coach Bobby Wallace, is in the midst of its preseason camp. The Owls open their 104th season of collegiate football with 7:00 p.m. contest versus Richmond at Franklin Field on Thursday, August 29.
