IRVING, Texas (Nov. 20, 2024) – The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame announced today a partnership with the Pacific Club IMPACT® Foundation to host an event awarding the 2024 Lott IMPACT® Trophy, presented by Allied Universal, as part of the festivities surrounding the 66th NFF Annual Awards Dinner, presented by Las Vegas. The announcement of the winner of the 2024 Lott IMPACT® Trophy will take place Monday, Dec. 9, at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, one day before the NFF Annual Awards Dinner.
“We are thrilled to expand our platform, creating an opportunity for the Lott IMPACT® Trophy to be part of our festivities,” said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. “The Lott IMPACT® Trophy has built an impressive 21-year history and staging their event on the day before ours provides the college football community with a new platform to celebrate the best defensive players in the country.”
The Lott IMPACT® Trophy is awarded annually to the nation’s top defensive player, who also exhibits the characteristics and integrity of Ronnie Lott by making an IMPACT® on and off the field. Lott earned unanimous First Team All-America honors in 1980, playing defensive back at Southern California from 1977-80. He played 16 years in the NFL, followed by a successful business career. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2002 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000. He has served on the NFF Board of Trustees since 2009.
“The NFF Annual Awards Dinner has been a marquee event for college football for nearly seven decades, attracting not only the greatest players and coaches but also athletics directors, commissioners, and media,” said Steve Craig, chairman of the Pacific Club IMPACT® Foundation. “By linking our announcement with the NFF event, we aim to increase awareness of the Lott IMPACT® Trophy, honoring Ronnie Lott’s legacy and impact on and off the field.”
FOX Sports Lead College Football Analyst Joel Klatt will host the event, which will feature interviews with all four of the finalists, a legendary figure from college football, and the announcement of the winner of the Lott IMPACT® Trophy.
The 2024 semifinalists include:
- Abdul Carter (Penn State)
- Barrett Carter (Clemson)
- Caleb Downs (Ohio State)
- Mason Graham (Michigan)
- Jay Higgins (Iowa)
- Travis Hunter (Colorado)
- Mikail Kamara (Indiana)
- Nic Scourton (Texas A&M)
- Xavier Watts (Notre Dame).
The finalists, who will travel to Las Vegas for the ceremony, will be announced on Nov. 21.
For additional details about the trophy, its history and the event, please visit LottIMPACTTrophy.org.
Media Contacts:
Phil Marwill for the National Football Foundation
pmarwill@footballfoundation.com
Trent Rush for the Lott IMPACT® Trophy
trush@lottimpacttrophy.org
ABOUT THE LOTT IMPACT® TROPHY
The Lott IMPACT® Trophy, presented by Allied Universal, is awarded to the nation’s top defensive player, who also exhibits the characteristics of Ronnie Lott by making an IMPACT® on and off the field. IMPACT® is an acronym for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity. The Lott IMPACT® Trophy was established by the Pacific Club’s IMPACT® Foundation in 2003 and is the first national college award based on the West Coast. Visit LottImpactTrophy.org for more information.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION & COLLEGE HALL OF FAME
Founded in 1947 with early leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl “Red” Blaik and immortal journalist Grantland Rice, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame is a non-profit educational organization that runs programs designed to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship, and athletic achievement in young people. With 120 chapters in 47 states, NFF programs include the criteria, selection and induction of members of the NFF College Football Hall of Fame; the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta; Future For Football; I Played; the William V. Campbell Trophy®; the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments; the NFF National High School Academic Excellence Awards presented by the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation & Hatchell Cup presented by the Original Bob’s Steak & Chop House; and a series of programs and initiatives to honor the legends of the past and inspire the leaders of the future. NFF corporate partners include Bruin Capital, Catapult, Delta Air Lines, Fidelity Investments, Hampshire Companies, Hanold Associates Executive Search, Jostens, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, New York Athletic Club, Pasadena Tournament of Roses, the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation and the Sports Business Journal. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @NFFNetwork and learn more at footballfoundation.org.
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