Bradbury Wins The Rimington Trophy
RALEIGH, N.C. – NC State's Garrett Bradbury was awarded the Rimington Trophy, given annually to the nation's most outstanding center, Thursday, December 6, 2018 at the ESPNU Red Carpet Show preceding the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show.
Upon receiving the honor, Bradbury said, "It is an unbelievable honor and a dream come true for me to receive the Rimington Trophy. I want to thank the Boomer Esiason Foundation, as well as my coaches and teammates. I couldn't have had the success I have without my 'band of brothers'."
Bradbury, the 20th recipient of the award, will be honored by the Rimington Trophy committee and the Boomer Esiason Foundation at the Rococo Theatre in Lincoln, Nebraska on January 12, 2019 – in the same city where trophy namesake and Nebraska All-American, Dave Rimington, earned his place in the College Football Hall of Fame.
He did not allow a quarterback pressure all season and was consistently listed as one of the top performers on offense nationally this season. Most recently, Bradbury scored a touchdown in the final regular season game against East Carolina, rushing the ball from the one-yard line.
After beginning at NC State as a 250-pound tight end, Bradbury moved to offensive guard as a redshirt sophomore, eventually transitioning to center as a redshirt junior. In his first season at center, he was a first-team All-ACC choice by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association and won honorable mention honors on the official league team. He was named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll each of the past four years, and went on to be named a first-team All-ACC performer this year, as well as a semifinalist for the 2018 Outland Trophy and team captain. Also in the classroom, he has earned Google Cloud Academic All-District honors two straight seasons.
About Bradbury, NC State head coach Dave Doeren said, "It has been a true pleasure to watch Garrett develop from a 250-lb. tight end into the best center in the country. He is not only a great player but a special person! He is a leader, a student of the game, and a person who treats people around him with tremendous respect. He is well-deserving of this honor and we are very proud of him."
About the Rimington Trophy
The Rimington Trophy is presented annually to the most outstanding center in NCAA Division I College Football. Since its inception, the eighteen-year old award has raised over $3.6 million for the Boomer Esiason Foundation, which is committed to finding a cure for cystic fibrosis.
Dave Rimington, the award's namesake, was a consensus first-team All-America center at the University of Nebraska in 1981 and 1982, during which time he became the John Outland Trophy's only two-time winner as the nation's finest college interior lineman. For more on the Rimington Trophy and a list of past recipients, visit www.rimingtontrophy.com
About the Boomer Esiason Foundation
In 1993, Gunnar Esiason – son of former NFL MVP quarterback Boomer Esiason – was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs, digestive system, and reproductive system of about 30,000 Americans by causing a thick build-up of mucus that leads to blockage, inflammation, and infection.
Boomer and his wife Cheryl founded the Boomer Esiason Foundation to raise funds and awareness for the cystic fibrosis community. The Foundation has raised over $138 million over the past 25 years. Today, BEF has 10 scholarships, transplant grants, and other educational programs in an effort to assist CF patients and families in their daily lives. There have also been over 800 athletes who have competed in marathons, half marathons, and more to raise money and awareness for Team Boomer – the athletic division of the Foundation.