KS-Hawai`i Grad Kekuewa Named to Rimington Trophy Watch List

Former Kamehameha-Hawai`i graduate David “Kelii” Kekuewa” has been placed on the Rimington Trophy Watch List for the 2013 season.

The Rimington Award, sponsored by the Boomer Esiason Foundation, is named after David Rimington, a former All-American in the 1980’s at the University of Nebraska. It is awarded to the best center in college football. The 2012 award went to Alabama’s Barrett Jones.

An early list of 44 players from across the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision were announced earlier this week. The list will be narrowed down as the 2013 season is played, ultimately leading to a winner.

Kekuewa will be entering his second and final season at Bowling Green. He transferred to the Mid-American Conference school last season after spending two years at Arizona Western Junior College. At the JC level, he earned multiple honors, including first-team All-Arizona Community College Athletic Conference, first-team All-Western States Football League and first-team All-National Junior College Athletic Association.

He instantly took to the field in his junior season at BGSU, starting all 13 games of the year. He anchored an offensive line that allowed only 15 sacks and averaged over 154 rushing yards per game. The Falcons finished the 2012 season with an 8-5 record, losing to #24 San Jose State in the Military Bowl Presented by Northrop Grumman.

Another notable name on the Rimington Trophy Watch List is Ben Clarke of the University of Hawai`i. In last year’s freshman season, Clarke started all 12 games under center and was named to the All-Mountain West honorable mention team.

Kekuewa was a standout lineman at Kamehameha-Hawai`i under head coach Ulima Afoa. His dad, Bruce, is an assistant at the school. He was an All-Big Island Interscholastic Federation second-Team selection in 2007 and a first-team selection in 2008.