In American football, a lineman is a player who lines up in the line of scrimmage, which is the area where each play begins. Linemen are crucial to both offensive and defensive units and play a central role in the game. There are two primary types of linemen: offensive and defensive, each with specific roles and features.
The honor Kent Hull Lineman of the Year Trophy, named after a Mississippi State and Buffalo Bills great, is given annually to the state’s top college offensive lineman.
Increased Recognition
The Entergy Kent Hull Lineman of the Year Award, a Mississippi State tradition since 2010, is named for former MSU star and Buffalo Bills pro football player Kent Hull. Hull played 11 seasons at center for the Bills, appearing in four consecutive Super Bowls and winning three.
MSU junior offensive tackle Martinas
The trophy is a bronze sculpture designed by Greenwood native John Sessums. It depicts Hull, a Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame inductee and 2002 Pro Bowl selection.
This is the sixth year Entergy has sponsored the award, named for former Mississippi State and Buffalo Bills center Kent Hull. The trophy honors Mississippi’s best collegiate offensive lineman and the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame donations Greenwood MS gives it each autumn. A committee of professional football scouts chooses the winner.
This year, the Mississippi State senior center Elgton Jenkins was awarded the prize. A native of Clarksdale, Mississippi, he has started every game this season for the Bulldogs. He has earned an 86.4 grade from Pro Football Focus, which places him fifth in pass blocking and fourth in run blocking.
Increased Opportunities
The award named after Hull, who died in 2011, honors a player who received little publicity but was critical to the success of his teams. The goal of the award is to spotlight linemen who often go unnoticed.
Broeker is the first Southern Miss player to win the Kent Hull Trophy, established in 2013 to honor Mississippi’s top collegiate offensive lineman. The trophy is a reminder of Kent Hull’s legacy and contributions to the football industry.
Increased Confidence
The Entergy Kent Hull Lineman of the Year Trophy is given to Mississippi collegiate offensive linemen who embody the qualities of the late Greenwood native and former Bills center, who spent 11 seasons in the NFL and appeared in three Pro Bowls. The winner of the trophy, a bronzed replica of Hull at work, is selected by a committee of experts, including scouts, and is presented during the C Spire Conerly Trophy banquet.
Several previous winners of the Hull Trophy, including Gabe Jackson, Laremy Tunsil, and Fahn Cooper, have played in the NFL.