LAS CRUCES, N.M. – NM State football running back Larry Rose III has been selected for the Rotary Lombardi Award Preliminary Watch List, announced the Rotary Club of Houston on Thursday. Rotary Lombardi Award, in its 47th year, is given to the player that best exemplifies the discipline, virtue and wisdom that defined Vincent Lombardi's exceptional brand of leadership.
 
After an impressive freshman season where Rose III rushed for 1,102 yards, the Fairfield, Texas native racked up a record-breaking 1,651 rushing yards on his way to an AP All-American Third Team selection and Sun Belt Conference Offensive Student-Athlete of the Year title. By season's end, Rose III became the first back-to-back 1,000-yard rusher for the Aggies since Denvis Manns rushed for over 1,000 yards during his four seasons in the Crimson and White.
 
Rose III was the only SBC student-athlete selected for an AP All-America team honors following the 2015 season. Additionally, he was the first Aggie to earn this recognition since Karl Dean who was selected for the Third Team in both 1974 and 1975.
 
With a 191-yard rushing performance against UL Lafayette, Rose III broke the NM State all-time single season rushing record. He also ranked No. 6 all-time in the SBC for single season rushing yards.
 
This is the fifth watch list Rose III has been selected for prior to the 2016 season. Below is the current list:
Maxwell Award
Doak Walker Award
Walter Camp Award
Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award
Rotary Lombardy Award
 
NM State opens the 2016 season on Sept. 3 as they travel to Battle of I-10 rival UTEP for a 6 p.m. showdown in El Paso, Texas.
 
Follow the Aggies throughout the season at nmstatesports.com and on Twitter @nmstatefootball.

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