RENO, Nev. - Nevada EDGE Dylan LaBarbera was named to the Lombardi Award Midseason Watch List Wednesday.

LaBarbera has built upon his breakout 2025 campaign this season, affecting opposing game plans and opening up opportunities for teammates through his constant disruption at the line of scrimmage. Nationally he ranks 15th with 5.20 solo tackles per game, racking up 26 through just five contests. His 8.6 tackles per game also ranks 32nd in the country.

While LaBarbera ranks second on the team with 43 tackles and has produced 2.0 sacks and 3.5 tackles-for-loss in addition to a team-high nine quarterback hurries, it is the gravity he creates from opposing defenses which has led to Nevada's defense producing across all units. Outside of LaBarbera, twelve different Wolf Pack defenders have at least shared one of the unit's 25 TFLs and eight have earned at least a share of one of the 12 sacks through five games.

Linebacker EJ Smith has been able to shine as one of the Mountain West's top defenders, ranking second in the country in both total tackles (59) and tackles per game (11.8) while leading the Pack in both sacks (2.5) and TFLs (4.5). Second-year defensive back Aiden Walker has already registered 4.0 TFLs and two sacks and fellow EDGE Myles Williams has surged to 1.5 sacks and 2.5 TFLs as opposing offenses have had to account for LaBarbera's rush.

The Lombardi Award, presented annually to the nation's best college offensive or defensive lineman, will once again be awarded at a ceremony in Houston on December 9, 2026. Celebrating its 53rd anniversary, the Lombardi Award has been presented in Houston since its establishment in 1970.

The Wolf Pack makes its second road trip in as many weeks this Saturday, heading to Fargo to face North Dakota State in a key Mountain West matchup Saturday at 4 p.m. PT.