{
  "id": 626648,
  "title": "Notre Dame OL Anthonie Knapp, LB Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa Named to Lombardi Award Watch List",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/notre-dame-ol-anthonie-knapp-lb-kyngstonn-viliamu-asa-named-to",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-12T03:22:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/notre-dame-ol-anthonie-knapp-032222629.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Notre Dame offensive lineman Anthonie Knapp and linebacker Kynston Viliamu-Asa have been named to the Lombardi Award Watch List. The Lombardi Award recognizes outstanding linemen and linebackers who embody leadership, courage, performance, and discipline both on and off the field. Notre Dame has produced five Lombardi Award winners - Walt Patulski (1971), Ross Browner (1977), Chris Zorich (1990), Aaron Taylor (1993), and Manti Te'o (2012).\n\nKnapp, who started all 12 games at left tackle last year and 29 in total over the past two seasons, was also named to the Outland Trophy Watch List recently. He led the Irish's offensive line, which powered one of the nation's premier rushing attacks in 2025. The team's 5.69 yards per carry was tied for third nationally, while their 38 rushing touchdowns matched the third-most in a single season at Notre Dame.\n\nViliamu-Asa, a native of the Inland Empire, California, played in 11 games last year, starting two before a season-ending injury. He finished fourth on the team with 48.0 total tackles, including 7.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, an interception, two pass breakups, and five quarterback hurries. Viliamu-Asa is also a member of the Nagurski Trophy Watch List and the Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List.",
  "summary": "Notre Dame offensive lineman Anthonie Knapp and linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa have been named to the Lombardi Award Watch List, which recognizes outstanding linemen and linebackers who embody the values of leadership, courage, performance, and discipline on and off the field. The Irish have had five winners of the Lombardi Award, including Walt Patulski, Ross Browner, Chris Zorich, Aaron Taylor, and Manti Te'o. Knapp, who started all 12 games at left tackle last season and 29 in total over the past two years, helped Notre Dame's rushing attack rank third nationally with 5.69 yards per carry and sixth with 38 rushing touchdowns. Viliamu-Asa, a native of Inland Empire, California, made 48 tackles and recorded 7.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, an interception, two pass breakups, and five quarterback hurries during his sophomore season.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Notre Dame CB Leonard Moore Selected to Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/notre-dame-cb-leonard-moore-selected-to-allstate-wuerffel-trophy",
        "published": "2026-08-12T03:12:56.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}