Tag: LOTT Impact Trophy

Zakoby McClain named to Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List

Auburn linebacker Zakoby McClain has been named to the Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List, an award won by Derrick Brown in 2019.

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Zakoby McClain is out for vengeance.

After the Auburn linebacker was denied postseason honors despite leading the nation with 113 tackles last season, he’s back to prove himself (and his doubters) wrong.

He’s already earning some recognition as he has been named to the Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List. Per the award website, “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.”

Auburn is no stranger to the award as Derrick Brown was the ultimate winner just two seasons ago.

Along with the 113 tackles (57 solo), McClain recorded 5.5 tackles for a loss, 3.0 sacks, 2.0 quarterback hurries, 1.0 forced fumble and 1.0 passes broken up last season as a sophomore.

Badger linebacker on the watch list for the 2020 Lott Impact Trophy

The watch list for the 2020 Lott Impact Trophy has been released and Wisconsin junior linebacker Jack Sanborn is a member of the list…

The watch list for the 2020 Lott Impact Trophy has been released and Wisconsin junior linebacker Jack Sanborn is a member of the list.

The trophy–one first awarded to Georgia linebacker David Pollack in 2004–is given to the defensive IMPACT player of the year, with IMPACT being an acronym for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.

Were Sanborn to receive the honor he would become the first Badger to do so, and the second ever, after J.J. Watt was the recipient in 2010.

Other notable names on the list of winners include Alabama and long-time Philadelphia Eagle linebacker DeMeco Ryans, Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly, UCLA linebackers Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks, Michigan linebacker/safety Jabrill Peppers and most recently Auburn defensive tackle Derrick Brown.

Sanborn enters his junior season after leading the team with 80 tackles last year but without fellow defensive stars in Chris Orr and Zack Baun alongside him. If his production from his first year as a starter is any indication, the Deer Park, Illinois native could be in for an impressive campaign as the quarterback and leader of Jim Leonhard’s defense.

Ohio State CB Shaun Wade listed on LOTT Impact Trophy 2020 preseason Watchlist

Ohio State cornerback Shaun Wade is one of 42 players appearing on the 2020 preseason LOTT Impact Trophy watchlist.

Get ready. It’s always a sign of college football getting closer in the rearview mirror when the parade of watchlists come out for the slew of awards we see in the sport. And wouldn’t you know it, the LOTT Impact Trophy, given to “college football’s defensive best in character and performance” annually has released its 42-man preseason watchlist for the upcoming 2020 season. It is awarded to the player that best demonstrates “integrity, maturity, performance, academics, community and Tenacity.”

And as you would expect, Ohio State has a representative on the list with the inclusion of cornerback Shaun Wade. The Buckeyes have had just one winner since its inception in 2004 when linebacker James Laurinaitis took the award home at the end of the 2008 season.

Wade will be a fourth-year junior who flirted with heading to the NFL early last season, but then made a decision to come back for one more year. He should be the cornerstone of an Ohio State secondary that lost three players to the 2020 NFL Draft — two of them first-rounders in Damon Arnette and Jeff Okudah.

We’ll keep an eye on all the watchlists as they are announced, and as more news is made available on the plans to have college football this fall so they can all be handed out.

 

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Owusu-Koramoah Named to Lott Impact Trophy Watch List

Another pre-season accolade for Notre Dame star Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.

There continues to be considerable hype for one of Notre Dame’s breakout defenders from last year, linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. We have been keeping track of some of  said hype here, and here as well.

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Adding more hype to Owusu-Koramoah for the 2020 season as he was named on the Lott Impact Trophy watch list. Of the 42 total athletes on the list, there are 16 linebackers, 15 defensive backs and 11 defensive linemen. The last time a Notre Dame defender won the Lott Trophy was in 2012 when linebacker Manti Te’o brought to award back to South Bend.

The Lott Trophy mentions Owusu-Koramoah’s versatility as he “can play multiple positions on defense,” in their short write up of the Irish star. Seeing his name on this list shouldn’t be surprising at all and his company is extremely impressive. Owusu-Koramoah should see his name on other watch-lists heading into the season, as the excitement for the senior to have a massive year is building.

MSU Football LB Antjuan Simmons named to Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List

Michigan State senior LB has been named to the Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List.

Antjuan Simmons is poised to be one of the top players on Michigan State’s roster this season and very likely will become a team captain (for reasons he displayed this week in his comments about the George Floyd protests). Others around the country are starting to take notice of MSU Football’s senior linebacker, as he was named to the Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List this week.

The award, named after Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive back Ronnie Lott, is awarded annually to a defensive player who embodies the spirit of IMPACT, which is an acronym for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community, and Tenacity.

Simmons has definitely shown us his character and his talent these past three years, and I look forward to seeing how he continues to develop both on and off the field.

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Wisconsin linebacker Chris Orr named Lott IMPACT Trophy semifinalist

Wisconsin Badgers senior linebacker Chris Orr has been named a semifinalist for the Lott IMPACT trophy.

If you asked Wisconsin fans which player is the heart and soul of this year’s team, most would name Chris Orr without hesitation.

The senior linebacker has always been known to have outstanding character throughout his time in Madison, but he has stepped into a prominent leadership role on the defense this year and emerged as an unquestioned leader among his teammates, both on and off the field. Orr also happens to be having a fantastic statistical season, leading the Badgers in both total tackles (55) and sacks (10) and trailing only Zack Baun in tackles for loss (11).

As a result of his special combination of leadership and on-field production, Orr has earned recognition as a semifinalist for the prestigious Lott IMPACT Trophy, an honor that 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.”

The other semifinalists are Derrick Brown (Auburn), Cole Christiansen (Army), Jordan Fuller (Ohio State), Brandon Jones (Texas), Kenneth Murray (Oklahoma), Isaiah Simmons (Clemson), Curtis Weaver (Boise State) and Evan Weaver (California).

Orr would be the second Badger to take home the award since its inception in 2004, as J.J. Watt received the honor in 2010.

The winner will be announced on Dec. 15.