April 5, 2002

LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech's Lawrence Flugence (Klein, Texas/Klein) has been named to the 2002 Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List, announced Thursday evening by the award's executive committee. Flugence is one of 49 defensive linemen or linebackers named to the list nationwide.

The 6-foot-2, 244-pound senior linebacker has been a defensive menace for opponents over the last seasons, amassing 156 tackles as a sophomore in 2000 and 145 tackles in 2001. Both totals led the Big 12. For his efforts last season, Flugence was named to the Associated Press All-America third team. He also earned several first- and second-team All-Big 12 nods.

Throughout his two seasons as a starter, Flugence has anchored a defense that has shutout four opponents and held three others without an offensive score. One of four team captains last season, he also has seven career sacks to his credit and an interception.

The 49 candidates earned a place on the initial Watch List by earning All-America honors at the end of the 2001 season, or by being named to their respective all-conference team as selected by the conference's head coaches. The Watch List will be updated prior to the start of the 2002 season, in order to identify those players who have been selected as preseason honors candidates.