It’s time to start thinking about preseason watch lists. And the first one out is the Lott IMPACT Trophy, which is given annually to the defensive player who has the biggest “impact” on his team -- impact being an acronym for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.
The award is in its 11th year.
Of the 42 players on this year’s watch list, 11 come from the Pac-12:
Michael Doctor, LB, Oregon State
Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon
Myles Jack, LB, UCLA
Eric Kendricks, LB, UCLA
Hau’oli Kikaha, DE, Washington
Wayne Lyons, CB, Stanford
Hayes Pullard, LB, USC
Jordan Richards, S, Stanford
Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
Jared Tevis, S, Arizona
Leonard Williams, DT, USC
UCLA’s Anthony Barr was the 2013 winner. Cal’s Dante Hughes was the league’s only other winner, in 2006.
Other previous winners include Manti Te’o (Notre Dame, 2012), Luke Kuechly (Boston College, 2011), J.J. Watt (Wisconsin, 2010), Jerry Hughes (TCU, 2009), James Laurinaitis (Ohio State, 2008), Glenn Dorsey (LSU, 2007), DeMeco Ryans (Alabama, 2005) and David Pollack (Georgia, 2004).
You can click here for the complete watch list.
