Written By: Roy Countryman @Blitzalytics
@PrecherBoyRoy
Week 5 in the college football landscape had a ton of epic games, and performances. As always the voters this week were torn between a number of quality showings from some of the top defensive playmakers out there.
This week’s winner is none other than Kentucky’s linebacker, Josh Allen.
Allen helped the upstart Wildcats defeat fellow SEC foe South Carolina 24-10. He contributed 8 total tackles, 4 TFL, 3 Sacks, 1 QB hurry, and 1 FF. This is the second consecutive week that Allen was amongst the finalist for the weekly award. Examining his skill set, it is easy to see why he may have a say in the final voting for the Lott Impact Trophy by seasons end. Blessed with loose hips, an ability to bend the edge, strong hand usage to slip offensive line blocks, the speed to burn on outside moves, excellent length, and an ability to convert speed to power inside, he can win in a variety of ways to put pressure on the quarterback. He is not only a one trick pony though, with his loose hips, speed, and agility he shows a true acumen for being able to drop off from his usual OLB position and carry tight ends or running backs into the flat. Josh Allen is one of the few multi-dimensional Linebacker’s in the country, and should be one of the reasons Kentucky continues their strong performance moving forward.
Allen was not the only player under consideration this week, and we will examine just a few of his strongest competitors for this week’s award.
Deshaun Davis, Linebacker: Auburn
Deshaun Davis was the Lott Impact Trophy week 3 player of the week, and he was making a bid to be the first two time winner this year. Davis put in a blue collar effort in a 24-8 win over Southern Mississippi, with 10 Tackles, and 2 TFL. Davis is an undersized ILB, who has tremendous instincts, play recognition, closing quickness, excellent tackling mechanics, and tackles with a nasty disposition. Due to his intelligence, he is like having a defensive coordinator in the huddle. Not only is he a contributor on the field, but takes great effort to make an impact off of it as well.
Zach Allen, Defensive End: Boston College
Allen contributed to Boston College winning a big game against Temple 45-35 recording 8 total tackles, 4 TFL, 2 sacks, and 1 QB hurry. Allen possesses a big, strong, and rugged DE prospect who can win plays with a variety of ways. He has strong hand usage, great length, an innate sense of when to get his hands up into throwing lanes, and an array of pass rush moves including a deadly push-pull, and a spin move. He plays with elite effort, and will not give up on making a play into the second phase of a play.
Te’von Coney, Linebacker: Notre Dame
Coney was a key contributor in one of the highlights of the Notre Dame season against Stanford. They came out on top with a 38-17 victory, that was directly affected by Conley pitched. He accrued 7 tackles, .5 TFL, and 1 PD in the victory. Coney is a well-sized ILB, who makes his presence felt in the run defense department, due to tremendous instincts, click and close ability. He has the strength to take on OL and shed them to shut down running lanes. He isn’t just a two-down thumper though and has loose enough joints to drop off into zone coverage to utilize those instincts and combine them with above-average speed to blanket players trickling out of the backfield.
This was a tremendous week in college football, with a well deserving player receiving the week 5 award. Best of luck to all nominees in week 6.