Oklahoma State University Athletics
Garner A Rimington Award Finalist
December 05, 2011 | Cowboy Football
Dec. 5, 2011
STILLWATER, Okla. - Oklahoma State center Grant Garner is one of five finalists for the Rimington Award given to America's best center, it was announced today.
The other finalists are Clemson's Dalton Freeman, Wisconsin's Peter Konz, Michigan's David Molk, Georgia's Ben Jones and Alabama's William Vlachos. The winner will be announced as part of the ESPNU Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 8.
Garner consistently turns in winning grades in veteran offensive line coach Joe Wickline's system and is a steadying leader for an Oklahoma State team that ranks second nationally in both scoring offense and passing offense and is third in total offense. In 798 snaps of action this season, Garner allowed only two quarterback pressures and one-half of a sack. Additionally, he posted 42 knockdown blocks and seven domination blocks.
Not only is Garner proficient in keeping quarterback Brandon Weeden safe, but he is also a central figure in the Cowboys rushing for 171 yards per contest and sophomore running back Joseph Randle ranking fourth in the country in scoring. Oklahoma State's offense has scored 50 or more points six times this season.
Garner is universally recognized as one of the most valuable players on a Cowboy team that won its first-ever Big 12 championship and is set to make its first-ever appearance in a BCS bowl game when it battles Stanford in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.
