ORLANDO, FLA. (FWAA) – Washington State defensive tackle Rien Long was named the winner of the 2002 Outland Trophy during the ESPN College Football Awards Show on Thursday night.

Rien Long

A panel of writers from the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) selected the winner after naming three finalists in early December. The other finalists were Miami center Brett Romberg and Utah offensive tackle Jordan Gross.

Long, who is the second defensive tackle to win the award during the last three years and first player from Washington State to win the Outland, also will be presented his trophy at a banquet on Jan. 9 which is hosted by the Omaha Sports Committee and First Data Corp.

The FWAA has presented the Outland Trophy since 1946 to the best interior linemen in college football. Tackles, guards and centers are eligible for the award, which is named after the late John Outland, an All-American lineman at the University of Pennsylvania.

Long, a 6-6, 286-pound junior from Anacortes, Wash., ranked third nationally in sacks and fourth in tackles for loss during the 2002 season. He has made 27 career starts for the Cougars. In a showdown game against Southern California, he had four tackles for losses.

His 19.5 tackles for 103 yards in losses this season ranks second on Washington State's all-time list. At Ohio State, he made seven tackles and shared in one sack. He had a season-high eight tackles vs. Washington, including a sack.

Related Links:
• Outland Trophy
• Previous Outland Trophy winners