NEW YORK - Eastern Michigan Nicholas Gallegos garnered nation recogition as the graduate student was one of 40 selections for the 2026 Rimington Trophy Preseason Watchlist. The Rimington Trophy is presented annually to the most outstanding center in NCAA Division I College Football. Since its inception, the award has raised over $5 million for the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

Gallegos started nine of 12 games on Eastern Michigan's offensive line in 2025, helping pave the way for 1,000-yard rusher Dontae McMillan as the Eagles allowed just 11 sacks, the sixth-fewest in the nation. A two-time Academic All-MAC selection, he also played in all 12 games on the kick return and special teams units in 2024.

This year, the Trophy committee worked with Pro Football Focus (PFF) 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 schools and data provided by PFF. Once the season begins, schools will be able to nominate their centers for late addition based on in-season merit.

MACtion on 2026 Preseason Watchlists
Maxwell Award
Jordan Gant, Akron
Broc Lowry, Western Michigan
Jalen Buckley, Western Michigan

Outland Trophy
Evan Malcore, Miami
Chad Schuster, Western Michigan

Bronko Nagurski
Bryce Llewellyn, Eastern Michigan
Josh Franklin, Western Michigan

John Mackey Award
Terik Mulder, Kent State
Joshua Long, Eastern Michigan

Rimington Trophy
Nicholas Gallegos, Eastern Michigan