Maiava named to Rimington Trophy Watch List

From UCLA:

The Rimington Trophy committee has announced its 2011 Fall Watch List and UCLA center Kai Maiava is one of 43 players on the list. The trophy is presented annually to the Most Outstanding Center in NCAA Division I-A football.

Maiava was named to the 2010 watch list, but suffered an ankle injury which required surgery during fall camp and missed all of last season. He has completely healed and is back for his final campaign in the Blue & Gold.

The list includes 13 returning players from the 2010 Watch List. In all, there are 43 players on the Watch List. The SEC checks in with the most candidates, with seven players representing the conference. The Big Ten follows with six players being named to the Watch List.

Since its inception, the Rimington Trophy has raised over $2 million. The twelve-year old award is overseen by the Boomer Esiason Foundation, which is committed to finding a cure for cystic fibrosis and has raised over $86 million for CF Research.

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 double 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