Lombardi winner is Tommie Harris

HOUSTON, Dec. 11 (UPI) -- Defensive tackle Tommie Harris of Oklahoma, has been named the winner of the Lombardi Award, which is presented to the nation's top lineman.

Harris, a starter since the first game of his freshman season, became the third Sooner to win the award, joining Lee Roy Selmon (1975) and Tony Casillas (1985). He is the first defensive tackle to claim the honor since Miami's Warren Sapp.

Harris had 34 tackles, including nine for losses, as well as four sacks and a fumble recovery.

"I did not really think that I was going to win this award and I was speechless when I did," Harris said. "When I looked back at past winners like Lee Roy Selmon, I knew I wanted to live in the legacy of being a Sooner gridiron great. I have accomplished that with this award."

The other finalists were defensive end David Ball of UCLA, defensive end David Pollack of Georgia , and Shawn Andrews, a 353-pound offensive tackle for Arkansas.