NEW YORK, NY – Monmouth University football graduate student offensive lineman AJ Farris has been named the Rimington Trophy Award winner at the Football Championship Subdivision level (FCS) for the 2020-21 season. 

The Rimington Trophy is presented annually to the most outstanding center at each level of college football and Farris is the first recipient of the prestigious award in Monmouth's history.

"This is a terrific honor for AJ as it recognizes his hard work as well as his dedication toward becoming an outstanding offensive lineman," head coach Kevin Callahan said. "AJ has performed at a high level for us and we look forward to another successful season for him in 2021."

Farris earned Second Team All-America honors after starting every game at center as a fifth-year senior. He earned First Team All-Big South recognition after heading up an offensive line that paved the way for the Big South's most explosive offense. Monmouth averaged 35 points per game in 2021 which was 11^th in the country and both the Hawks rushing and passing offense was ranked in the top-20 nationally. Farris was a third team All-American by two separate media outlets following the 2019 season.

The award winners are selected by Jason Dannelly, coordinator of the Rimington Award and longtime writer of college football in non-FBS divisions as part of the continued tradition of one of College Football's most prestigious awards. Dannelly was the founder of the Victory Sports Network and has been a member of the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) for over 20 years.
 
About the Rimington Trophy
The Rimington Trophy is presented annually to the most outstanding center in NCAA Division I College Football. Since its inception, award has raised over $4.5 million for the Boomer Esiason Foundation, which is committed to finding a cure for cystic fibrosis. 
 
Dave Rimington, the award's namesake, was a consensus first-team All-America center at the University of Nebraska in 1981 and 1982, during which time he became the John Outland Trophy's only two-time winner as the nation's finest college interior lineman. For more on the Rimington Trophy and a list of past recipients, visit www.rimingtontrophy.com
 
The Rimington Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 25 awards now boast over 800 recipients, dating to 1935. Visit ncfaa.org to learn more about the association.