Tag: LOTT Impact Trophy

Pair of Alabama defensive veterans land on Lott Impact Trophy watch list

Alabama football’s two defensive leaders earn a preseason honor!

The 2024 season will be here before we know it and the anticipation and excitement continue to build in Tuscaloosa as a new era of Alabama Crimson Tide football will get underway with Kalen DeBoer at the helm.

Some have questioned DeBoer and the Tide this offseason and have wondered if Alabama can maintain the level of success that they had for 17 seasons under the legendary [autotag]Nick Saban[/autotag].

One thing that hasn’t been questioned is the leadership of this team. That includes and perhaps is headlined by a pair of defensive veterans who have recently made a preseason watch list.

On Thursday, linebacker [autotag]Deontae Lawson[/autotag] and defensive back [autotag]Malachi Moore[/autotag] were named to the 2024 Lott Impact Trophy watch list.

Lawson is entering his redshirt junior season with the Tide and was a semifinalist for the Butkus Award in 2023 as Alabama’s second-leading tackler despite missing three games. Lawson finished 2023 with 67 tackles. 5.5 tackles for loss, and three sacks.

Moore is a graduate student at Alabama and has been a mainstay in the Crimson Tide lineup since his true freshman season in 2020. Moore finished the 2023 campaign with 52 tackles, five tackles for loss, five pass breakups, and one interception.

The Lott Impact Trophy is awarded annually to the college football defensive IMPACT player of the year. IMPACT is an acronym for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community, and Tenacity.

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A pair of Longhorns DB’s named to the Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List

Texas DB’s Jahdae Barron and Andrew Mubuka named to Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List

Every year since 2004, the Lott Trophy has been awarded annually to the nation’s defensive IMPACT player of the year. While the award does revolve around on-the-field performances, much more is factored into it as IMPACT stands for “Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community, and Tenacity.”

The list of former winners is quite remarkable with the likes of DeMeco Ryans, J.J. Watt, Luke Keuchly, and Manti Te’o headlining the group. Michigan’s Junior Colson was the 2023 Trophy winner with Aidan Hutchinson and Will Anderson Jr. having taken home the award in the two previous years.

Heading into the 2024 season, a pair of Texas Longhorns find themselves on the Lott Trophy watch list in cornerback Jahdae Barron and safety Andrew Mukuba.

Barron is entering his fifth year with the Texas program and recorded 59 total tackles a season ago with one interception and five passes defended. Mukuba on the other hand enters his first year on the Forty Acres after transferring from Clemson this offseason.

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Abdul Carter and Dani Dennis Sutton named to Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list

Penn State’s Abdul Carter and Dani Dennis-Sutton have been named to the watch list for a top defensive award in 2024.

Two of Penn State’s best defensive players have started college football’s award watch list season by appearing on the watch list for the Lott IMPACT Trophy. Defensive ends [autotag]Abdul Carter[/autotag] and [autotag]Dani Dennis-Sutton[/autotag] were included on the watch list released by the Lott IMPACT Trophy this week.

The Lott IMPACT Trophy is awarded to the nation’s top defensive player based on the award’s core principles of integrity, maturity, performance, academics, community, and tenacity. The award is named in honor of Ronnie Lott, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Carter is making a move from linebacker to defensive end this season and is expected to be a dominant force off the edge this fall. Penn State’s defensive line will feature Dennis-Sutotn on the opposite end, giving the Nittany Lions potentially one of the top defensive end combinations in the Big Ten, if not the nation. Both players have already started receiving potential first-round NFL draft pick projections for 2025.

Penn State has one all-time winner of the Lott IMPACT Trophy. Carl Nassib won the award in 2015. At the time, he was the third Big Ten player to take home the award, joining Ohio State’s James Laurinaitis (2008) and Wisconsin’s J.J. Watt (2010). Other Big Ten winners since Nassib have included Jabrill Peppers of Michigan (2016), Josey Jewell of Iowa (2017), Paddy Fisher of Northwestern (2020), and Aidan Hutchinson of Michigan (2021).

Last season’s winner of the Lott IMPACT Trophy was Michigan linebacker Junior Colson.

The Lott IMPACT Trophy match list is typically released well ahead of the rest of the individual college football award watch lists. More watch lists are scheduled to be released beginning in late July as part of the National College Football Awards Association’s calendar. The Lott IMPACT Trophy is not a part of this association.

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Continue to see the full 2024 Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list.

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Three Ohio State football players make Lott Impact watch list

The first of many watch lists, and likely the first of a many Ohio State players appearing on them. #GoBucks

We’re not quite in the middle of college football watch list season, but we’ll start to get some of them trickle out as we get deeper into summer. The first of those came on Thursday with the release of the 2024 Lott Impact watch list, and Ohio State is the only team with three players appearing on it.

The Lott trophy has been around since 2004 and goes to the defensive player who makes the biggest impact for the team both on and off the field based on the acronym IMPACT (Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity).

For the Buckeyes, the trio appearing among the 42 names are senior cornerback Denzel Burke, sophomore safety Caleb Downs, and senior defensive end JT Tuimoloau.

Burke had a bounce back year last season after a sophomore season in which he didn’t quite live up to what we saw during his freshman campaign. He’ll be on the shortlist of the best corners, not only in the Big Ten, but in the country.

As a freshman, Downs was one of the best defensive backs in the country at Alabama and made the difficult decision to transfer to Ohio State when Nick Saban retired. He should be a significant difference maker for OSU this fall.

Tuimoloau surprised many by coming back for his senior season. He was one of the most coveted prospects in the country when he committed to Ohio State back in 2021. He has dominated games at times and will be a part of one of the best defensive end tandems in the country, opposite fellow edge rusher Jack Sawyer.

Former linebacker and current assistant coach James Laurinaitis is the only Ohio State player to have won the Lott Trophy. He did it back in that ridiculous 2008 campaign.

We’ll continue to bring you that multitude of OSU players sure to be on preseason watch lists as things get closer and closer to the start of the 2024 season.

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Expectations are high for Ohio State defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau as he is on this watch list

Not just one Buckeye made this watch list #GoBucks

There needs to be another [autotag]Ohio State[/autotag] spot at the table with linebacker Tommy Eichenberg at the [autotag]Lott Impact Trophy[/autotag] watch list.

Buckeye defensive end [autotag]J.T. Tuimoloau[/autotag] joined his linebacker teammate being named to the award given out for the most impactful defensive player in college football.

The rising junior broke out on the national scene against Penn State as Tuimoloau had an epic game. Two interceptions, one for a score, two sacks, a forced fumble and recovery, with six total tackles. It was a dominating performance, that helped the Buckeyes avoid an upset on the road in Happy Valley.

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Although Tuimoloau couldn’t keep up with that game’s wild stat line, who could, there are many that expect him to blow up this fall. There are plenty of mock 2024 NFL drafts that have him being selected in the first round. If he lives up to those expectations, he very well could be a finalist for the Lott Impact Trophy.

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The hype train is beginning for Ohio State linebacker Tommy Eichenberg

All aboard! #GoBucks

It’s been a pretty good last few days for [autotag]Ohio State[/autotag] linebacker [autotag]Tommy Eichenberg[/autotag].

Not only did the second-team All-American earn his real estate degree over the weekend, but also on Monday Eichenberg was named to the [autotag]Lott Impact Trophy[/autotag] watch list.

A finalist for the award last year, he was named their player of the week in back-to-back weeks for his performances against Penn State and Iowa. The captain racked up 120 tackles with 2.5 sacks last year and chipped in an interception as well.

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Eichenberg enters his final season with an opportunity to be one of the best linebackers in the country along with the potential to be an early selection in the NFL draft.

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Notre Dame’s Benjamin Morrison named to Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List

The Irish are lucky to have this kid.

[autotag]Benjamin Morrison[/autotag] made quite the impression as a Notre Dame cornerback in 2022. Now, he’s starting to bring in the accolades. Morrison has been named to the watch list for the 2023 Lott IMPACT Trophy. This award, which [autotag]Manti Te’o[/autotag] won in 2012, is awarded to the defensive player who best demonstrates athletic excellence and exemplifies IMPACT, which is an acronym for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.

The Irish are scheduled to face several of Morrison’s fellow watch list candidates during the 2023 season. Two of them, defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau and linebacker Tommy Eichenberg, represent Ohio State. The Irish also will draw defensive back Calen Bullock and linebacker Mason Cobb of USC. Also upcoming are Clemson linebacker Barrett Carter and Duke defensive lineman Dewayne Carter.

In short, the Irish will be seeing a lot of defensive stars who also are high-character guys in 2023. Those who think offense is getting too much leeway in college football will not be disappointed. At least it seems that way on paper.

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Duck defensive end Jordan Burch on Lott Impact Trophy watch list

Jordan Burch was named to the Lott Impact Trophy watch list, an award given to players who display on-field prowess, and off-field character.

When Jordan Burch announced he would be transferring from South Carolina and looking for another place to play, Oregon’s Dan Lanning was one of the first ones to get the former 5-star on the phone.

The Ducks needed to replace DJ Johnson, and it was celebrated when Burch said he was coming out west to play in Eugene. Oregon knew the on-the-field talent it was acquiring, but Burch is as impressive off the field as well.

He is on the watch list for the Ronnie Lott IMPACT Trophy, an award named for former San Francisco 49ers great and NFL Hall of Famer, Ronnie Lott.

According to the Pacific Club Foundation’s website, the award is “unique because it represents the first college football award to give equal weight to personal character as well as athletic performance from a defensive college player and is the first national college football award based on the West Coast.

“The IMPACT award is awarded annually to individuals who demonstrate excellence in the field of athletics and recognizes college football’s Defensive Player of the Year who best exemplifies the IMPACT acronym: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community, and Tenacity.

Burch battled injuries during his time at South Carolina, but he had a career season in 2022 with 60 tackles, 7.5 tackles for a loss, and 3.5 sacks.

Alabama’s Will Anderson, Jr. was the 2022 winner.

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Danny Stutsman named to Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list

Danny Stutsman named to Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List. Stutsman is looking to take the next step after a strong 2022 season for Oklahoma.

The soon-to-be junior linebacker for the Oklahoma Sooners, Danny Stutsman, has been named to the Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List for 2023. The IMPACT Trophy awards the defensive player that showcases the best combination of character and performance both on and off the field in college football.

Last season, Stutsman had 118 tackles, good for fourth in all of college football. He was a tackling machine and was one of the bright spots for an Oklahoma defense that was filled with inconsistencies in 2022.

Stutsman also had 70 solo tackles, three sacks, and two interceptions in his first opportunity to start. The Florida native figures to be a massive key to the Sooners defense again this year. Another year in Brent Venables defense should lead to a more comfortable Stutsman.

The defense is expected to be better with an influx of talent through the recruiting class and the transfer portal.

This recognition before the season starts is great to see because it also shows people taking notice of an ascending player in a defense that should make improvements in 2023.

Does this give you anymore confidence in the Sooner defense this year? It’s a unit that needed the most help this offseason and it seems like they got it with Brent Venables being all-in on defense thanks to his background.

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Joey Porter Jr. named semifinalist for Lott IMPACT Trophy

Already a semifinalist for the Bednarik Award, Joey Porter Jr. makes another award’s semifinalist cut.

Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr. is one step closer to becoming Penn State’s second all-time winner of the Lott IMPACT Trophy. Porter Jr. was named a semifinalist for the award on Thursday.

Porter is one of two Big Ten players who made the semifinalist cut for the Lott IMPACT Trophy. He is joined by Ohio State linebacker Tommy Eichenberg on the semifinalist cut. Porter Jr. is also one of two defensive backs to make the latest cut, joining Alabama safety Jordan Battle.

The Lott IMPACT Trophy is awarded to the student-athlete who best exhibits the characteristics of Ronnie Lott, the trophy’s namesake, with consideration given to a player’s integrity, maturity, performance, academics, community leadership, and tenacity.

Last year’s winner of the Lott IMPACT Trophy was Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson. It was the second season in a row that a Big Ten player won the award, following Northwestern linebacker Paddy Fisher in 2020. Other notable previous winners of the award include David Pollack (Georgia, 2004), Glenn Dorsey (LSU, 007), J.J. Watt (Wisconsin, 2010), and Jabrill Peppers (Michigan, 2016).

Penn State has one Lott IMPACT Trophy award winner in program history. Carl Nassib received the award in 2015.

Porter Jr. was recently named a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award by the Maxwell Football Club as well.

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