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ACC Tops Conferences on 2011 Lott Trophy Watch List
Photo – DL Jared Crick - Nebraska
Nebraska’s Jared Crick heads an outstanding preseason list for the Ronnie Lott 2011 Trophy. Crick is a two time All American who has had a dominant short career in Nebraska and a two-time Big 12 selection. He plays both tackle and end in the Cornhuskers front line and has displayed big play ability since early in his career. He moves to the Big Ten this fall where he should continue to shine as one of the premier and most versatile linemen in the nation.
A total of seven conferences and one independent were represented among the 42-player Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list, the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation announced.
Boston College’s Luke Kuechly is the only 2010 first-team Associated Press All-American represented on the list, while there are six players who were named to the AP‘s second team — Nebraska’s Jared Crick, TCU’s Tank Carder, Nebraska’s Lavonte David, Virginia Tech’s Jayron Hosley, Oregon’s Cliff Harris and Alabama’s Mark Barron — who are on the initial watch list.
One player on the last, Arizona’s Omar Bolden, will likely miss the entire 2011 season after suffering a torn ACL during preseason practice earlier in August.
The ACC led all conferences with 11 players, followed by the SEC and Big Ten with eight apiece. The Pac-12 with seven, the Big 12 four, the Mountain West two and the Big East and Notre Dame with one apiece rounded out the initial field.
According to the Lott Award foundation’s mission statement, the award is given annually to individuals who demonstrate excellence in the field of athletics. The IMPACT award recognizes college football’s Defensive Player of the Year who best exemplifies Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.
J.J. Watt of Wisconsin was last year’s winner. Other winners have included TCU’s Jerry Hughes (2009), Ohio State’s James Laurinaitis (2008), LSU’s Glenn Dorsey (2007), Cal’s Dante Hughes (2006), Alabama’s DeMeco Ryans (2005) and Georgia’s David Pollack (2004).
The award is named for college and NCAA Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott.
The 2011 Lott Award Watch List:
ACC
Ray-Ray Armstrong, Miami, DB
Nigel Bradham, Florida State, LB
Quinton Coples, North Carolina, DE
Matt Daniels, Duke, S
Jayron Hosley, Virginia Tech, CB
Brandon Jenkins, Florida St, DE
Luke Kuechly, Boston College, LB
Matt Merletti, North Carolina, S
Chase Minnifield, Virginia, CB
Sean Spence, Miami, LB
Kenny Tate, Maryland, S
BIG East
Kendall Reyes, UConn, DT
BIG Ten
Jared Crick, Nebraska, DL
Lavonte David, Nebraska, LB
Aaron Henry, Wisconsin, DB
Joe Holland, Purdue, LB
Jordan Kovacs, Michigan, S
Tyler Nielsen, Iowa, LB
John Simon, Ohio State, DT
Jerel Worthy, Michigan St, DT
BIG 12
Emmanuel Acho, Texas, LB,
Brodrick Brown, Oklahoma St, CB
Travis Lewis, Oklahoma, LB
Jacquies Smith, Missouri, DE
Mountain West
Tank Carder, TCU, LB
Billy Winn, Boise St, DE
Pac-12
Omar Bolden, Arizona St, CB
Tony Dye, UCLA, S
Cliff Harris, Oregon, CB
Delano Howell, Stanford, DB
Mychal Kendricks, Cal, LB
T.J. McDonald, USC, S
Shayne Skov, Stanford, LB
SEC
Mark Barron, Alabama, S
Jake Bequette, Arkansas, DL
Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina, CB
Dont’a Hightower, Alabama, LB
Janois Jenkins, Florida, CB
Chris Marve, Vanderbilt, LB
Brandon Taylor, LSU, S
Prentiss Waggner, Tennessee, S
Independents
Manti Te’o, Notre Dame, LB