Joel Klatt, the lead college football analyst on FOX Sports, will return as the host for the 16th Annual Lott IMPACT Trophy Award Banquet Dec. 15 in Newport Beach.
The black-tie event to honor the top collegiate defensive player in the country who has contributed the most to his school both on and off the field will be held at The Pacific Club in Newport Beach.
Klatt is now in his fifth season teaming with play-by-play announcer Gus Johnson on FOX. The two have become one of the most respected and popular duos in all of sports.
Klatt was a college football star at Colorado where he set 19 school records as a sophomore and was a three-year starter. He was also a baseball standout and was drafted by the San Diego Padres as an infielder. After two minor league seasons, he then returned to college and played for his hometown Buffaloes.
An avid golfer (with a low handicap), Joel lives in Newport Beach with his wife and three sons.
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There is no such thing as a good backup quarterback in college football. If you’re a good player and not starting, you are leaving for a program where you can be the man.
College football 2019 is full of QB transfers – and on some of the biggest programs in the nation.
Jalen Hurts (left Alabama for Oklahoma)
Justin Fields (left Georgia for Ohio State)
Joe Burrow (left Ohio State for LSU)
Jacob Eason (left Georgia for Washington)
Shane Buechele (left Texas for SMU)
And two dozen or so more….
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Has there ever been a more accomplished coaching staff than John Ralston’s at Stanford? One year he had on his staff four future NFL head coaches – Bill Walsh (49ers), Jim Mora (Saints and Colts), Dick Vermeil (Eagles, Rams, Chiefs) and Mike White (Raiders).
Both Walsh and White have served on the Board of Directors of the Lott IMPACT Trophy.
Ralston passed away this month at the age of 92.
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Jacksonville rookie Josh Allen (Lott Trophy winner in 2018) had 2.5 sacks in the Jaguars’ recent win over Tennessee…Former Heisman Trophy winner Howard (Hopalong) Cassady of Ohio state actually spent more time in baseball than in football. He worked as a scout and coach for the New York Yankees for decades, thanks to his old Buckeye classmate – George Steinbrenner. Cassady died at age 85 Sept. 19… Texas (Brandon Jones, Malcolm Roach) and Michigan (Khaleke Hudson, Josh Metellus) each have two players on the Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List. The Longhorns have never had a Lott winner, but four finalists, where Michigan has had one finalist and one winner, Jabrill Peppers, 2016.