2006 Rimington Award Winners Announced

Award recognizes the most outstanding centers

March 14, 2007

Courtesy The Sports Group

DALLAS - The Rimington Award recognizes the most outstanding centers from each of the smaller NCAA divisions and the NAIA. This year's winners are listed below.

Jackie Skipper

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

Senior

6'1", 295 lbs

Computer Science major

Skipper started in 11 games for the Golden Lions and anchored an offensive line that ranked No. 1 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference in scoring offense, with 29.1 points per game. Skipper's offensive line also posted a No. 2 conference ranking in pass offense (200.6 yards per game) and total offense (342.8 yards per game). A four-year starter, Skipper has played every position on the offensive line. He is a three-time All-SWAC selection and a first-time American Football Coaches Association Division I-AA All-American. Skipper, who bench presses 475 lbs, attended the same high school (Bastrop High) as former Arkansas-Pine Bluff player and current Jacksonville Jaguars receiver/tight end Brian Jones.

Christian Morton

University of South Dakota

Junior

6'5", 291 lbs

Business major

As the only returning offensive line starter from the 2005 season, Morton played and started in all 13 games for the Coyotes in 2006. The Junior center was selected to the Division II First Team and was a finalist for the Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year Award. At 6'5" and 291 lbs, his presence in the middle helped South Dakota become one of Division II's most potent offenses, ranked fifth-best in the nation. As a redshirt freshman, Morton started five games, playing in ten, and received the Harry Gamage Most Valuable Freshman Award. He was rewarded the following year, starting ten games at center for the Coyotes.

Josh Knox

Hardin-Simmons University

Senior

5'10", 250 lbs

History major

Knox was named Offensive Lineman of the Year in the American Southwest Conference, and was a two-time All-ASC selection for the Cowboys during the 2006 season. He was voted a preseason All-American after earning second-team All-American accolades in 2005. Knox also earned recognition as an academic All-ASC student. He was recently selected to represent the United States in the Azteca Bowl against the Mexican National Team in Aguascalientes, Mexico. Knox was one of 48 Division III seniors participating in the game for Team USA.

Jeremiah Hays

Evangel University

Senior

6'1", 300 lbs

A four-year starter for the Crusaders, Hays was selected to the first ever American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) NAIA Coaches' All-America team. He earned first team All-Heart of America Athletic Conference honors as a junior and senior and was an honorable mention pick following his first two seasons at Evangel. Hays was the second-highest rated lineman in the conference and the fourth-highest rated player in the league. In 2005, Hays was awarded three all-America honors and earned honorable mention NAIA and Football Gazette All-America honors. He was a fourth-team pick on the naiafootball.net All-America team.

About the Rimington Award

The Rimington Award is presented to the premier centers in each of the following divisions: Division 1- AA, Division II, Division III, and NAIA. The recipients of the Rimington Award are chosen by Don Hansen. Don is recognized as the foremost expert on Small College Football across the United States. The term "Small College Football" refers to the collegiate football divisions NCAA 1-AA, NCAA 1-AA Mid-Major, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA, and NCCAA; or in other words all college football divisions with the exception of Division I-A.