The watch list for the 2009 Lott Trophy has been announced. The award is given to a player who exhibits the same characteristics Lott embodied during his distinguished career.
Named after Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, The Lott Trophy is awarded to college football's Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year. Now in its sixth year, The Lott Trophy is the only college football award to equally recognize athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player.
Sponsored by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, the award is given to a player who exhibits the same characteristics Lott embodied during his distinguished career: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.
The Watch List is made up of 42 of the nation's top defensive players who have had the biggest IMPACT on their teams on and off the field.
David Pollack of Georgia won the initial Lott Trophy in 2004. DeMeco Ryans of Alabama won the award in 2005, Daymeion Hughes of Cal was the recipient in 2006, Glenn Dorsey of LSU in 2007 and James Laurinaitis of Ohio State last year. Georgia, Alabama, Cal, LSU and Ohio State have each received $25,000 for their general scholarship funds. In five years, the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation has now donated nearly $650,000 to various charities, including the four universities.
Voters for the award include selected members of the national media, previous finalists, the Board of Directors of the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, The IMPACT Foundation Board of Advisors comprised of many retired NFL players and Legends Coaches, a distinguished group of former head college coaches.
2009 Lott Trophy Watch List
Mike Anello (Notre Dame)
Pat Angerer (Iowa)
Matthew Bauman (BYU)
Patrick Benoist (Vanderbilt)
Eric Berry (Tennessee)
Alex Carrington (Arkansas State)
Terrence Cody (Alabama)
Reggie Carter (UCLA)
Harry Coleman (LSU)
Kurt Coleman (Ohio State)
Rennie Curran (Georgia)
Brian Duncan (Texas Tech)
Brandon Graham (Michigan)
Mark Herzlich (Boston College)
Jerry Hughes (TCU)
Jeremy Jarmon (Kentucky)
Greg Jones (Michigan State)
Jan Jorgensen (BYU)
Keaton Kristick (Oregon State)
Sean Lee (Penn State)
Taylor Mays (USC)
Rolando McClain (Alabama)
Gerald McCoy (Oklahoma)
Bo McNally (Stanford)
Derrick Morgan (Georgia Tech)
Roddrick Muckelroy (Texas)
Mike Nixon (Arizona State)
Eric Norwood (South Carolina)
Vince Oghobaase (Duke)
Jeff Owens (Georgia)
Joe Pawelek (Baylor)
George Selvie (South Florida)
Brandon Spikes (Florida)
Darrell Stuckey (Kansas)
Ndamukong Suh (Nebraska)
Syd’Quan Thompson (Cal)
Alterraun Verner (UCLA)
T.J. Ward (Oregon)
Sean Weatherspoon (Missouri)
Ryan Winterswyk (Boise State)
Reed Williams (West Virginia)
Corey Wootton (Northwestern)