NEW YORK, N.Y. - Delta State University senior center Darrell Leopold was named a co-recipient of the 2011 Rimington Award, as the top collegiate center in NCAA Division II football.  Leopold shared the award this season with Abilene Christian University's Matt Webber.

Leopold, a native of Laurel, Miss., is Delta State's first Rimington Award winner.  The 6-foot-3, 305-pound senior was named a First Team All-American by Daktronics and The Football Gazette after leading the Statesmen to an 11-3 season and their second straight Gulf South Conference championship.  

With Leopold anchoring the line, the Statesmen went 22-7 over the last two seasons with an appearance in the 2010 NCAA Division II National Championship Game and a berth in the 2011 NCAA DII National Semifinals.  

A 2010 and 2011 All-Gulf South Conference selection, Leopold led the Statesmen in knockdown blocks and pancake blocks each of the last two seasons.  He is also an All-GSC Academic Honor Roll recipient, boasting a 3.3 GPA in business.  

For more on the Rimington Awards, please log on to www.rimingtontrophy.com.

About the Rimington Award
Whereas the Rimington Trophy is awarded to the most outstanding center in NCAA FBS, the Rimington Award is presented to the premier centers in each of the following divisions: NCAA Division FCS, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and NAIA.  The recipients of the Rimington Award are chosen by Jason Dannelly, founder and editor of the Victory Sports Network. The Award has been recognizing the nation's premier centers beyond the NCAA FBS division since 2003.