NEWPORT BEACH, CA. – The Lott IMPACT Trophy has named eight defensive players as semi-finalists for the annual award, now in its 15th season.
The announcement was made by the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation in Newport Beach, CA.
Voting for the winner and finalists will take place in November and the 15th annual awards banquet will be held Dec. 9 at the Pacific Club in Newport Beach. The banquet will be streamed live with Joel Klatt of FOX serving as the master of ceremonies.
The university of the winner will receive $25,000 for the school’s general scholarship fund with each of the other three finalists getting $5,000 for their school.
The Semi-Finalists:
Josh Allen, LB, Kentucky
Zach Allen, DL, Boston College
Ben Burr-Kirven, LB, Washington
Joe Dineen Jr., LB, Kansas
Chase Hansen, LB, Utah
Ben Humphreys, LB, Duke
Jordan Kunaszyk, LB, Cal
Christian Wilkins, DL, Clemson
2018 Lott IMPACT Trophy Players of the Week:
Week One – Ed Oliver, Houston
Week Two – Joe Dineen Jr – Kansas
Week Three – Deshaun Davis, Auburn
Week Four – Ben Burr-Kirven, Washington
Week Five – Josh Allen, Kentucky
Week Six – Adarius Pickett, UCLA
Week Seven – Devin White, LSU
Week Eight – Ben Burr-Kirven, Washington
Week Nine – Josh Allen, Kentucky
Week Ten – Te’von Coney, Notre Dame
Week Eleven – Chase Hansen, Utah
Week Twelve – Josh Allen, Kentucky
Previous Winners of the Lott IMPACT Trophy:
2004 – David Pollack, Georgia
2005 – DeMeco Ryans, Alabama
2006 – Dante Hughes, Cal
2007 – Glenn Dorsey, LSU
2008 – James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
2009 – Jerry Hughes, TCU
2010 – J.J. Watt, Wisconsin
2011 – Luke Kuechly, Boston College
2012 – Manti Te’o, Notre Dame
2013 – Anthony Barr, UCLA
2014 – Eric Kendricks, UCLA
2015 – Carl Nassib, Penn State
2016 – Jabrill Peppers, Michigan
2017 – Josey Jewell, Iowa
Named after College and 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 $1.5 million to various charities throughout the country. The 15th annual Lott Trophy dinner will be held Dec. 9th at The Pacific Club in Newport Beach, California. For more information on The Lott Trophy visit: www.LottImpactTrophy.org.
A look at the 2018 Lott IMPACT Trophy Semi-Finalists:
Josh Allen, LB/DL, Sr., Kentucky (7-3)
(6-5, 260, Montclair, NJ): Has 15.5 tackles for losses (11th in country) ,11 sacks (2nd in country), 5 forced fumbles (leads nation), 2 fumble recoveries, 5 quarterback hurries and 65 total tackles. Last season: All-SEC 2nd team, 65 tackles, led team with 9.5 tackles for losses and six sacks, ESPN, SI AND SPORTING NEWS MID-SEASON ALL-AMERICAN, TWICE THE LOTT IMPACT PLAYER OF THE WEEK.
“I can’t say enough good things about Josh. He is a genuinely good guy. He cares for his teammates and I’ve seen him grow since he came to school,” – Jen Smith, Kentucky beat reporter for Lexington Herald-Leader. He has donated time for Special Olympics and children’s cancer research program.
Zach Allen, DL, Sr., Boston College (7-3)
(6-5, 285, New Canaan, CT): Semi-finalist for Bednarik Award. Has 13 tackles for losses, 5.5 sacks, 10 quarterback hurries, a blocked kick, forced fumble, interception and 3 passes broken up. Last season: One of only two defensive linemen to record 100 tackles, led team with 15.5 tackles for loss, named second-team All-ACC.
Academic All-ACC, Academic All-District, National Honor Society and National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete in high school, and four-year honor roll student. Finance major at BC.
Ben Burr-Kirven, LB, Sr., Washington (7-3)
(6-0, 222, Menlo Park, CA): Leads the country with 134 total tackles. That’s twice as many as anyone on team. Has 4 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 5 passes broken up, 3 tackles for losses and a sack. Career: On the Watch List last year. Led Huskies with 84 tackles last season, named 2nd team All-Pac-12. ESPN MID-SEASON ALL-AMERICAN, TWICE THE LOTT IMPACT PLAYER OF THE WEEK.
On Dean’s List six time. Two-time academic All-District and All Pac-12 with a 3.58 GPA in comparative literature, cinema and media studies. Turned down offers from Harvard and Princeton.
Joe Dineen Jr., LB, Sr., Kansas (3-7)
(6-2, 221, Lawrence, KS): Has 119 tackles on the season (7th in nation), 10 tackles for losses, 3 sacks. Also has an interception, a fumble recovery and 3 quarterback hurries. Last season: Sports Illustrated All-American, 25 tackles for loss. LOTT IMPACT TROPHY PLAYER OF THE WEEK SEPT. 8.
2nd team, All Big-12 Honor Roll, Team Captain. Wuerffel Trophy Watch List; AFCA Good Works Team nominee. Academic All-Big 12; Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team. Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll and Athletic Director’s Honor Roll. Earned his bachelor’s degree in management and leadership with an entrepreneurship concentration in May 2018.
Chase Hansen, LB, Sr., Utah (7-3)
(6-3, 230, Highland, UT): Leads team with 88 tackles, has 19 tackles for losses (tied for 2nd in the country), 4 sacks, a fumble recovery and an interception; As a sophomore, he led team with 90 tackles and recovered four fumbles, injured much of 2017 when he was on the Lott Watch List. Lott IMPACT Player of the Week Nov. 10.
Academic-all-region in high school. Received bachelor’s degree this summer with major in consumer and community studies with an emphasis in financial planning and a minor in sociology.
Ben Humphreys, LB, Sr., Duke (7-3)
(6-2, 225, Newport Beach, CA): Has 65 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for losses, a sack, a blocked kick, 2 recovered fumbles and 2 quarterback hurries. 207 career tackles, 70 tackles, 9 tackles for loss last season.
Prepped at Mater Dei, lives in Newport Beach. Majoring in public policy studies while minoring in economics and pursuing a certificate in markets and management. Academic All-ACC as a sophomore, Winner of Glenn Davis Army award in high school for outstanding performance and service. Presented with the “Ronald McDonald House Heart of Gold Award” recognizing his leadership, service and generosity. Began relationship with 5-yar-old boy who has Pelizaeus-Mersbacher Disease and visits him frequently. Semi-finalist for Campbell Trophy. Team captain.
Jordan Kunaszyk, LB, Sr., Cal (6-4)
(6-3, 235, Sacramento, CA): Has 114 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 4 S sacks, 2 quarterback hurries, 2 passes broken up and 4 forced fumbles. Had 22 tackles in loss to UCLA. Last season: Led team with 74 tackles.
Honorable Mention Academic All-American with 3.09 GPA in sociology. Traveled to Mexico with Athletes in Action to help rebuild a community. “Digging holes for fences or putting up drywall in a church wasn’t glamorous,” said Kunaszyk, “But it felt good to give back to the community.” Active in AIA.
Christian Wilkins, DL, Sr., Clemson (9-0)
(6-4, 300, Springfield, MA): Has 35 tackles, 9.5 tackles for losses, 2.5 sacks and 9 quarterback hurries. Two-time All-American with 210 career tackles, 31.5 tackles for losses. Lott Quarter-Finalist last year. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED SECOND-TEAM MID-SEASON ALL-AMERICAN. FINALIST FOR CAMPBELL AWARD FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
Team captain. CoSIDA Academic All Regional. Graduated from Clemson in 2 ½ years. Spent his off-season as a substitute school teacher, often volunteering to work with children in need of special education.