The Lott IMPACT Trophy 2018 Watch List

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From the Lott IMPACT Foundation …

NEWPORT BEACH, CA. – The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation has announced the 42 candidates for the 15th annual Lott IMPACT Trophy.

The announcement was made at a luncheon in Newport Beach hosted by Ronnie Lott and the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation.

The 42 (Ronnie Lott’s number) nominees represent the finest in college football — defensive players who have had the biggest IMPACT on their teams both on and off the field. IMPACT stands for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.

There are 21 linebackers, 11 defensive backs and 10 defensive linemen on the initial Watch List. Nine different conferences (and two independents) are represented with the Pac-12 leading the way with 11 student-athletes nominated. Half of the candidates, 21, have received some form of academic recognition during their college careers to date.

Candidates will be evaluated during the season with a Player of the Week chosen each week (and his school receiving $1,000 for its general scholarship fund). The four finalists will attend the 15th annual Lott IMPACT Trophy Banquet Dec. 9 in Newport Beach (with his school receiving $25,000 for its general scholarship fund).

Eight players are on the Watch List for the second consecutive season: Koron Crump (Arizona State), Porter Gustin (USC), Chase Hansen (Utah), Ed Oliver (Houston), Ty Summers (TCU), Drue Tranquill (Notre Dame), Christian Wilkins (Clemson) and Cameron Smith (USC), who was a semi-finalist last year.

2018 Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List

Josh Allen, LB, Kentucky

Zack Allen, DL, Boston College

Deandre Baker, DB, Georgia

Nick Bosa, DE, Ohio State

Ben Burr-Kirven, LB, Washington

Te’von Coney, LB, Notre Dame

Koron Crump, DE/LB, Arizona State

DeShaun Davis, LB, Auburn

Joe Dineen Jr., LB, Kansas

Troy Dye, LB, Oregon

T.J. Edwards, LB, Wisconsin

Jordan Fuller, S, Ohio State

Denzel Goolsby, S, Kansas State

Porter Gustin, LB, USC

Nate Hall, LB, Northwestern

Chase Hansen, S, Utah

Khaleke Hudson, DB, Michigan

Ben Humphries, LB, Duke

Chauncy Gardner-Johnson, DB, Florida

Pat Jasinski, LB, Central Florida

Joe Jackson, DL, Miami

Anfernee Jennings, LB, Alabama

Caleb Kelly, LB, Oklahoma

Jordan Kunaszyk, LB, Cal

Dexter Lawrence, DE, Clemson

David Leisring, S, Dayton

Kekoa Nawahine, S, Boise State

Anthony Nelson, DL, Iowa

Bobby Okereke, LB, Stanford

Ed Oliver, DL, Houston

Adarius Pickett, DB, UCLA

Taylor Rapp, S, Washington

Colin Schooler, LB, Arizona

Jeffery Simmons, DL, Mississippi State

Cameron Smith, LB, USC

Sutton Smith, DE, Northern Illinois

Ty Summers, LB, TCU

Drue Tranquill, LB, Notre Dame

Devin White, LB, LSU

Christian Wilkins, DL, Clemson

Sean Williams, S, Navy

Dedrick Young, LB, Nebraska

Previous Winners of the Lott IMPACT Trophy:

2004 – David Pollack, Georgia

2005 – DeMeco Ryans, Alabama

2006 – Dante Hughes, Cal

2007 – Glenn Dorsey, LSU

2008 – James Laurinaitis, Ohio State

2009 – Jerry Hughes, TCU

2010 – J.J. Watt, Wisconsin

2011 – Luke Kuechly, Boston College

2012 – Manti Te’o, Notre Dame

2013 – Anthony Barr, UCLA

2014 – Eric Kendricks, UCLA

2015 – Carl Nassib, Penn State

2016 – Jabrill Peppers, Michigan

2017 – Josey Jewell, Iowa