BC's Herzlich chosen for Rudy Award

Published Jan. 11, 2011 5:08 p.m. ET

foxsports

Linebacker Mark Herzlich of Boston College has won the Rudy Award after missing a season with a rare form of bone cancer then returning to play his senior year.

The award is given by the charitable Rudy Foundation to a college football player who shows exemplary character, courage, contribution and commitment. It was presented Tuesday to Herzlich's father, Sandy, at the American Football Coaches Association convention in Dallas.

Herzlich was the ACC defensive player of the year in 2008 then was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma. This season, he played all 13 games and was third on the Eagles with 65 tackles.

The award is named for Daniel ''Rudy'' Ruettiger, a walk-on at Notre Dame and the subject of a 1993 movie. He played in only one game and sacked the quarterback on Nov. 8, 1975. He had been diagnosed with dyslexia, was 5-feet-6 and weighed 165 pounds.