ALABAMA’S McCLAIN NAMED LOTT TROPHY PLAYER OF THE WEEK
NEWPORT BEACH, Ca. – Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain has been named the Lott Trophy IMPACT Player of the Week.
McClain, a 6-4, 258-pound junior from Decatur, Alabama, was credited with 7 tackles (one for a loss) and two quarterback hurries as Alabama held South Carolina without a touchdown in a 20-6 win. Alabama’s defense is ranked No. 1 in the country and the Tide is 7-0.
An All SEC selection last season as a sophomore, McClain has also made it on the SEC Academic Honor Roll.
Alabama will receive $1,000 for its general scholarship fund in recognition of McClain’s accomplishment.
“This guy shows up every single Saturday,” said former Auburn Coach Pat Dye, a member of the Legends Coaches who selected the Player of the Week. “He is the best defensive player I have seen this year. No, make that the best defensive player I’ve seen in many years.”
Other players nominated for the Player of the Week were Greg Jones of Michigan State, Gerald McCoy of Oklahoma, Pat Angerer of Iowa and Darrell Stuckey of Kansas.
2009 Lott Trophy IMPACT Players of the Week
Week 1 – Mike Nixon, Arizona State
Week 2 – Derrick Morgan, Georgia Tech
Week 3 – Eric Berry, Tennessee
Week 4 – Pat Angerer, Iowa
Week 5 – Taylor Mays, USC
Week 6 – Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska
Week 7 – Rolando McClain, Alabama
Named after Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, the Lott Trophy is awarded to college football’s Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year. Now in its sixth year, the Lott Trophy is the first college football award to equally recognize athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player.
Sponsored by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation in Newport Beach, the award is given to the player who exhibits the same characteristics Lott embodied during his distinguished career: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.
Past winners of The Lott Trophy:
2004 – David Pollack, Georgia
2005 – DeMeco Ryans, Alabama
2006 – Dante Hughes, California
2007 – Glenn Dorsey, LSU
2008 – James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
In five years, the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation has donated more than $650,000 to various charities, including $25,000 to each of the winners’ universities.
Voters for the award include selected members of the national media, previous finalists, the Board of Directors of the IMPACT Foundation, the IMPACT Foundation Board of Advisors comprised of retired NFL players and the Legends Coaches, a distinguished group of former college head coaches.
Watching The Watch List
Greg Jones, Michigan State – Recorded 14 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 quarterback hurries and one pass break up in Spartans’ 24-14 win over Northwestern.
Jerry Hughes, TCU – 2 sacks (to give him 8 on the season) in 44-6 wi over Colorado State to keep TCU undefeated at 6-0.
Taylor Mays, USC – Had 10 tackles in win over Notre Dame, 34-27.
Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska – Credited with 4 quarterback hurries and 2 tackles for losses in 31-10 loss to Texas Tech.
Pat Angerer, Iowa – His 9 tackles included a sack in 20-10 win over Wisconsin to keep Hawkeyes undefeated.
Darrell Stuckey, Kansas – Led team with 12 tackles and added an interception in loss to Colorado, 34-30.
Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma – Credited with 5 quarterback hurries and 2 tackles for loss (with a sack) in 16-13 loss to Texas.
Kurt Coleman, Ohio State – 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery in loss to Purdue, 26-18.
Joe Pawelek, Baylor – 10 tackles, one pass break up in loss to Iowa State, 24-10.
INJURIES: Kentucky’s Trevard Lindley has missed the last two games with an ankle injury while Florida’s Brandon Spikes was forced to the sidelines with a groin problem during the Gators’ game with Arkansas.
Named after Pro Football Hall of Fame member, Ronnie Lott, The Lott 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 the Legends Coaches which is a distinguished group of former college football head coaches. The sixth annual Lott Trophy dinner will be held December 13th at The Pacific Club in Newport Beach, California. For more information on The Lott Trophy visit: http://www.LottTrophy.com.
Pete Donovan
The Lott Trophy
760/360-0414
Thelotttrophy.com