NEWPORT BEACH, CA. – The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation has announced six finalists for the 17th annual Lott IMPACT Trophy.
The six finalists are:
Paddy Fisher of Northwestern
Talanoa Hufanga of USC
Tarron Jackson of Coastal Carolina
Joseph Ossai of Texas
Patrick Surtain II of Alabama
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah of Notre Dame
The finalists were chosen by conference – Big 12, ACC, SEC, Big Ten, Pac-12 and At Large.
The Lott IMPACT Trophy goes to the college football player who has the biggest IMPACT on his team on and off the field. IMPACT stands for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.
The winner of the award will be announced on Feb. 21 at an Awards Ceremony at the Pacific Club.
Joel Klatt of FOX Sports will serve as the emcee once again this year.
In addition to the Lott Trophy being awarded there will be the announcement of the inaugural Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation Hall of Fame with co-founder John Hamilton being the inducted. Mr. Hamilton passed away last summer. Former USC Coach John Robinson will be the speaker.
For information on the event contact Karen Ringer at KRinger@thelotttrophy.com
A look at the Lott IMPACT Trophy Finalists:
PADDY FISHER, Northwestern (7-2), LB, 6-4, 246, Katy, TX: All-American; Big Ten Linebacker of the Year (86 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, one interception, forced fumble, fumble recovery); Three-time team captain; Two-time All-American; Wears No. 42; Academic All-Big Ten and Big Ten Distinguished Scholar; Three times All-Big Ten honors on the field; 404 career tackles, most among active players; Freshman All-American when he had 113 tackles. Involved in numerous charities locally.
TALANOA HUFANGA, S, USC (5-1) 6-1, 220, Corvallis, OR: (Led Trojans with 62 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 4 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, fumble recovery); Had a 17-tackle, 2 TFL, one fumble recovery and an interception in win over UCLA; Named Thorpe National Player of the Week; All-Pac-12 second team in 2019; 203 career tackles; Junior. All-American AND Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2020.
TARRON JACKSON, DL, Coastal Carolina (11-1), 6-2, 260, Aiken, SC: All-American this year; Nagurski Finalist; Grad student in applied math; Two-time team captain; Senior Class Nominee; Campbell Semi-finalist; {54 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, 18 QB hurries, 3 forced fumbles}, All-Sun Belt last season; Heavy community involvement; has worked with numerous charities and events over his time at Coastal Carolina.
JOSEPH OSSAI, Texas (7-3), DE, 6-4, 253, Conroe, TX: All-American; (55 tackles, 16 tackles for losses, 5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles); National Player of the Week vs. Oklahoma with 12 tackles, 6 for losses and 3 sacks; Bednarik Finalist; Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll; Two-time All District Honoree; Academic All-District Honors; His mother won visa lottery to move family from Nigeria when he was nine.
PATRICK SURTAIN II, Alabama (12-0), CB, 6-2, 202, Plantation, FL: Thorpe, Bednarik and Nagurski Finalist; Projected first round NFL pick; Has 42 tackles, 7 passes broken up, one fumble recovery, 8 quarterback hurries, 8 passes defended this year; Only one touchdown against him all season; Honorable Mention AA last year; SEC Defensive Player of the Year; All-American this year.
JEREMIAH OWUSU-KORAMOAH, Notre Dame (10-2), Rover, 6-2, 215, Hampton, VA: Butkus Winner as best linebacker in the country; All-American this year; Nagurski, Bednarik Finalist; National Player of the Week vs. Clemson; (62 tackles, 11 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 1 interception, 2 fumble recoveries, 3 forced fumbles, 3 passes broken up, 2 quarterback hurries).
For more information on the finalists, go to 2020 Lott IMPACT Trophy Finalists
Named after Pro Football Hall of Fame member, Ronnie Lott, The Lott IMPACT Trophy is awarded to college football’s Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year. Founded in 2004 by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, The Lott Trophy is the first and only college football award to equally recognize athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player. The Lott Trophy is given to the player who exhibits the same characteristics Lott embodied during his distinguished career: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity. Voters for the award include selected members of the national media, previous finalists, the Board of Directors of the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation and a distinguished group of former college football head coaches. To date, the Foundation has donated more than $1.6 million to various charities throughout the country. The 17th annual Lott IMPACT Trophy Award presentation will be held Feb. 21, 2021