Michael Maietti Named to Rimington Trophy Watch List

Columbia, Mo. – Mizzou graduate center Michael Maietti earned a spot on the Rimington Trophy Watch List, presented annually to the nation’s top college football center, it was announced on Friday.

Maietti, in his second season with the Tigers, will finish his master’s in positive coaching in December. He is a three-time member of the Rimington Trophy Watch List (2019 – Rutgers, 2020 and 2021 – Mizzou). He was named 2021 preseason third-team All-SEC (by the media) and honorable mention 2020 All-SEC by PFF.

In 2020, Pro Football Focus (PFF) graded him at 75.0, which ranked as the SEC’s fourth-best center and the 14th-best grade nationally. Maietti has started 43 consecutive games at center dating back to 2017 (played at Rutgers from 2017-19). His in first season with Mizzou (2020), he started every game and played every snap (731).

For the 2021 list, the Trophy committee worked with Pro Football Focus to narrow down its list to the top 40 centers. PFF grades every player on every play of every game on how well they execute their given assignment. That play-by-play grading allowed the Trophy committee to create a watchlist based both on nominations from the school and data provided by PFF.

Earlier this week, defensive lineman Trajan Jeffcoat was named to the Bednarik Award Watch List, quarterback Connor Bazelak was named to the Davey O’Brien Award Watch List and running back Tyler Badie was named to the Doak Walker Award Watch List. Badie is also an AFCA Good Works Team nominee.

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