They are not noticed unless a man wearing a striped shirt throws the flag to hold it and calls out the number of the offending lineman for all God’s children. Kent Hull of Greenwood, Mississippi State, and the Buffalo Bills was an exception. Hull was a brilliant center. He was so intelligent, honest, and so glib that sports writers and broadcasters sought him out often. Everybody wanted to hear what Kent had to share. I knew I wanted to hear what Kent had to say, right from the moment he played his first game at Mississippi State as a freshman and through his death. Hull, who died far too early at 50 in October 2011, was not looking for attention. It sought him. He loved his role as an offensive lineman. They were rarely given credit for their important work, he knew. He would have appreciated the Kent Hull Trophy being awarded each fall to the best college offensive lineman from Mississippi. Justin Senior, Mississippi State’s fifth-year senior, was selected Tuesday as the 2016 recipient. Hull was an offensive lineman who embodied everything we love about him: strength, speed, toughness and intelligence. He also had a strong work ethic, dependability, humility, and a great sense of humor. He was a good citizen. He gave and gave a lot, most notably to Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital. Annually, the Hull Trophy goes to the Mississippi college’s offensive lineman who best exemplifies the traits that allowed Hull to play in three Pro Bowls and four Super Bowls. He also became one of the most respected and influential linemen in the NFL. Each year, the trophy, a bronzed reproduction of Hull at work, is presented at the C Spire Conerly Trophy Banquet. The Clarksdale Country club will host the trophy presentation on Tuesday, 29 November. It is important to know that the Kent Hull Trophy was created by a group of Hull friends. This will reveal a lot about Hull’s friends. To raise funds for the annual award, we held a Kent Hull appreciation banquet in 2013. The event was originally scheduled to take place at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. However, it sold out and was moved to the Jackson Hilton (capacity of over 500). Jim Kelly, the then-ill quarterback of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, took a split second before he said “Yes” to being asked if he would be speaking at an appreciation banquet. Kelly stated that Kent was the heartbeat and leader of the Buffalo Bills. People often talk about Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, and Bruce Smith. But if you’re looking for the glue, then number 67 is the right place. Kelly strongly believes that Hull should be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Although it hasn’t yet happened, it could. The Hall of Fame’s veterans committee is considering Hull. Personal note: Kent Hull was a friend of mine. His first year at Mississippi State was also my first season covering State football at The Clarion-Ledger. He was supposed to be red-shirting that season, but injuries forced him to take up a position as a 200-pound center. Hull fought and Emory bellard, his coach loved him. Bellard would tell Hull, in his Texas drawl, “As tough and as tough as a two-bit steak.” Bellard said, “You can see that he is going to be great player.” I saw Bellard’s words become a reality. Finally, Kent was covered in four Super Bowls. He reminded everyone that he was just an ordinary Greenwood boy. He said that Kelly and he came to Buffalo in the same year. Hull said that Kelly arrived in Buffalo in a limousine. Kent laughed and said, “I followed him to town on a wagonload full of pumpkins.” That was Kent. Mississippi Today’s sports columnist is Rick Cleveland. Check out his columns as well as his Sports Daily blog. Reach Rick at rcleveland@mississippitoday.org.