Michigan State University Athletics
Shilique Calhoun Named Lombardi Award Semifinalist
11/5/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State junior defensive end Shilique Calhoun has been named one of 12 semifinalists for the Lombardi Award, which has been presented annually since 1970 to the nation's top college football lineman.
Calhoun is also one of 20 semifinalists for the Bednarik Award (nation's most outstanding defensive player) and one of 20 quarterfinalists for the Lott IMPACT Trophy.
A year after being named the Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year, Calhoun continues to produce big plays for the Spartans. Calhoun is tied for the team lead in sacks (6.0 for 75 yards) and ranks third in tackles for loss (8.5 for 86 yards). He leads the Big Ten and ranks third in the FBS in sack yardage (75 yards) and ranks second in the league and fourth in the FBS in tackles for loss yardage (86). Calhoun also ranks among the Big Ten leaders in sacks (tied for fourth with 0.75 per game) and tackle for loss (tied for 13th with 1.06 per game). In addition, he blocked a field goal in the Wyoming game and recovered a fumble and returned it 38 yards against No. 19 Nebraska. He ranks third on the team with 104 production points.
A product of Middletown, New Jersey, Calhoun earned Midseason All-America honors from CBSSports.com (second team) and Phil Steele (third team). He has a tackle for loss in seven of MSU's eight games, and has tallied a sack in five consecutive games.
The 6-foot-5, 256-pound Calhoun led the Spartan defensive linemen with 15 production points in the win over Michigan Oct. 25, including three solo tackles with a 5-yard sack.
He led the Spartans with 17 production points at Indiana after collecting four tackles, including 2.5 for losses (20 yards) and one sack (11 yards).
In MSU's Big Ten opener, a 27-22 win over No. 19 Nebraska, Calhoun had four tackles, including a 7-yard sack, and scooped up an Ameer Abdullah fumble at the MSU 7-yard line and returned it 38 yards.
Calhoun ranks among MSU's all-time leaders in sack yardage (seventh with 121), tackles for loss yardage (eighth with 163), fumble recoveries (tied for 10th with five) and sacks (tied for 10th with 14.5). In 35 career games, including 22 consecutive starts, he has 68 tackles with 25 resulting in losses (37 percent). Last season, Calhoun was a second-team All-American after recording 37 tackles, including 14 for losses with 7.5 sacks. He tied a school record with three defensive touchdowns and had four fumble recoveries.
In addition to Calhoun, the other 11 semifinalists include: Vic Beasley (DE, Clemson), Joey Bosa (DE, Ohio State), Reese Dismukes (C, Auburn) , Hau'oli Kikaha (LB, Washington), Benardrick McKinney (LB, Mississippi State), Robert Nkemdiche (DT, Ole Miss), Nate Orchard (DE, Utah), Shane Ray (DE, Missouri), Brandon Scherff (T, Iowa), Leonard Williams (DE, USC), and Scooby Wright (LB, Arizona).
The 45th Rotary Lombardi Award Ceremony will be held Dec. 10 at the Bayou Music Center in Houston, Texas. The four finalists will be announced on Nov. 20.
