NEWPORT BEACH, CA. – Utah defensive end Jonah Elliss is the Lott IMPACT® Trophy Player of the Week for week 4 of the 2023 college football season, after compiling 3.5 sacks, among 10 tackles with five for a loss in the Utes 14-7 win over #22 UCLA.
Elliss also graded out as the national defensive player of the week with a 92.0 grade by Pro Football Focus. Additionally, five of his tackles resulted in a defensive stop.
A junior from Moscow, Idaho, Elliss was an All-Pac 12 honorable mention player a season ago. Jonah’s father, Luther, had a 10 year NFL career after an All-American collegiate career at Utah, where he is now coaching defensive linemen. His brother Kaden plays for the New Orleans Saints after playing college football at Idaho, where his two other brothers, Christian and Noah, compete.
The Lott IMPACT® Trophy player of the week is determined in part by a panel of Lott Trophy board members, former players and coaches, as well as members of the media. That panel represents sixty percent of votes, while an online fan vote is used to determine the other forty percent.
The Lott IMPACT® Trophy is awarded annually to individuals who demonstrate excellence in the field of athletics and recognizes college football’s Defensive Player of the Year who best exemplifies the IMPACT acronym: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.
The mission of The Pacific Club IMPACT® Foundation is to recognize and support both national and local charities that serve the youth of America with a focus on education and have a positive IMPACT® on the lives of young men and women.
Other nominees for the Lott IMPACT® Trophy Player of the Week in Week 4:
JORDAN BURCH, DE, Oregon, Jr.- Had two sacks, among four tackles in the Ducks 42-6 win over #19 Colorado.
KALEN DELOACH, LB, Florida State, Sr.– Forced a fumble which he recovered and took 56 yards for a touchdown, among 7 tackles (5 solo) and a pass broken up in the Seminoles 31-24 overtime win over Clemson.
MAXWELL HAIRSTON, DB, Kentucky, So.- Returned two interceptions for touchdowns (tied an SEC record), to go with three pass breakups in the Wildcats 45-28 win at Vanderbilt.
JT TUIMOLOAU DE, Ohio State, Jr.– Made six tackles (3 solo), 0.5 for a loss, and broke up a pass in the Buckeyes 17-14 win over #9 Notre Dame.
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
2018 – Josh Allen, Kentucky
2019 – Derek Brown, Auburn
2020 – Paddy Fisher, Northwestern
2021 – Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan
2022 – Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
The 20th Annual Lott IMPACT® Trophy Award Presentation will be held December 10th at The Pacific Club in Newport Beach, California. To purchase tickets for the event, click here or for more information on The Lott Trophy visit: www.LottImpactTrophy.org