Finalists Announced for the 2025 Lott IMPACT® Trophy, presented by Allied Universal®
Award to be presented December 7 on CBS Sports Network from The Pacific Club in Newport Beach, Calif.
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. — Nov. 24, 2025 — The Lott IMPACT Trophy presented by Allied Universal has named four finalists for the annual award for the nations top defensive college football player based on their performance and character.
– CJ Allen, Linebacker, University of Georgia
– Rueben Bain, Defensive End, University of Miami
– Caleb Downs, Safety, Ohio State University
– Jacob Rodriguez, Linebacker, Texas Tech University
The winner of the Lott IMPACT Trophy, presented by Allied Universal, will be announced on December 7 at 7pm ET/4pm PT from The Pacific Club in Newport Beach, Calif. in a live television broadcast on CBS Sports Network. Former UCLA head coach and current CBS college football analyst Rick Neuheisel will host the event, along with CBS sideline reporter Jordan Giorgio.
This is the 22nd year of the Lott IMPACT Trophy presented by Allied Universal, which is awarded annually to the student-athlete that best exhibits the characteristics of hall of fame safety Ronnie Lott by making an IMPACT on and off the field. IMPACT is an acronym for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.
Media who wish to attend the event are to arrive at 3:00pm PT for red carpet interviews with the finalists and special guests.
Please RSVP to Trent Rush (trush@lottimpacttrophy.org) by Wednesday, December 3.
Previous Winners of the Lott IMPACT® Trophy
2024 — Travis Hunter, University of Colorado
2023 — Junior Colson, University of Michigan
2022 — Will Anderson Jr., University of Alabama
2021 — Aidan Hutchinson, University of Michigan
2020 — Paddy Fisher, Northwestern University
2019 — Derek Brown, Auburn University
2018 — Josh Allen, University of Kentucky
2017 — Josey Jewell, University of Iowa
2016 — Jabrill Peppers, University of Michigan
2015 — Carl Nassib, Penn State
2014 — Eric Kendricks, UCLA
2013 — Anthony Barr, UCLA
2012 — Manti Te’o, University of Notre Dame
2011 — Luke Kuechly, Boston College
2010 — J.J. Watt, University of Wisconsin
2009 — Jerry Hughes, Texas Christian University
2008 — James Laurinaitis, Ohio State University
2007 — Glenn Dorsey, Louisiana State University
2006 — Dante Hughes, University of California, Berkeley
2005 — DeMeco Ryans, University of Alabama
2004 — David Pollack, University of Georgia