Sept. 9, 2008
For Release Wednesday, Sept. 10
Cal’s Follett Named Lott Player of the Week
Cal Linebacker Zack Follett has been named the winner of The Lott Trophy IMPACT® Player of the Week presented by Wachovia.
Follett scored on a 65-yard return of a blocked field goal, had a sack and another tackle for loss in Cal’s 66-3 win over Washington State.
Cal will receive $1,000 for its general scholarship fund in recognition of Follett’s performance.
Follett (6-1, 238, Clovis, Ca.) was selected by The Legends Football Coaches Association. Former Washington Head Coach Don James, an LFCA member, commented on Follett’s play: “Follett’s run back of the blocked field goal came early in the second quarter with the Cougars down only 21-3 and attempting to cut the lead to 15 points. His touchdown put the game out of reach for Washington State and allowed Cal to cruise to an easy victory.”
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 fifth 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, Ca., the award is given to a player who exhibits the same characteristics Lott embodied during his distinguished career: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.
David Pollack of Georgia won the initial Lott Trophy in 2004. DeMeco Ryans of Alabama won the award in 2005 Daymeion Hughes of Cal was the recipient in 2006 and Glenn Dorsey of LSU in 2007. Georgia, Alabama, Cal and LSU each received $25,000 for their general scholarship funds. In four years, the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation® has donated more than $450,000 to various charities, including the four universities.
Voters for the award include selected members of the national media, previous finalists, the Board of Directors of the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation®, The IMPACT® Foundation Board of Advisors comprised of many retired NFL players and the Legends Coaches, a distinguished group of former head college coaches.
Other players receiving consideration from the Legends Coaches were Brit Miller of Illinois, Jan Jorgensen of BYU, Darryl Richard of Georgia Tech and James Laurinaitis of Ohio State.
* * * * * * * * * *
For further information on The Lott Trophy, please visit our website at Lotttrophy.com.
LOTT SHOTS: Ohio State’s two nominees for The Lott Trophy, James Laurinaitis, a finalist last year, and Malcolm Jenkins, each had an interception in the Buckeyes’ 26-14 win over Ohio…BYU’s Jan Jorgensen blocked the last-second extra point that would have put the game into overtime as the Cougars defeated Washington, 28-27…South Carolina’s Eric Norwood had 10 tackles (with one sack) in a loss to Vanderbilt, 24-17…Pitt Linebacker Scott McKillop had 15 tackles to lead the Panthers past Buffalo, 27-16…Brandon Spikes paced Florida with 11 tackles (1.5 for losses) in a convincing 26-3 win over Miami…Illinois Linebacker Brit Miller had a big game against Eastern Illinois, recording a game high 11 tackles, forcing a fumble, getting a sack and coming up with an interception. The Illini prevailed, 47-21…Georgia Tech’s Darryl Richrd recorded three tackles for losses in win over Boston College, 19-16. He also had a fumble recovery…BC Linebacker Mark Herzlich had 13 tackles in the loss…Jeremy Jarmon of Kentucky had 2.5 tackles for losses, including one sack, as the Wildcats held Norfolk State to 164 yards in total offense, winning the game 38-3…Zack Potter of Nebraska had a pass interception for the Huskers in a 35-12 win over San Jose State…Sean Weatherspoon of Missouri returned an interception for a touchdown in the second straight game of the season. He returned this one 67 yards. He also contributed a sack and a fumble recovery in a 52-3 win over Southeastern Missouri…Nick Reed of Oregon had a sack in a 66-24 win over Utah State and Mitch King of Iowa had one in a 42-0 whitewashing of Florida International…Brian Orakpo of Texas had 1 ½ sacks in a win over UTEP…South Florida’s Tyrone McKenzie had two tackles for losses in an overtime win against Central Florida.
Media Contact
Pete Donovan
760/360-0414; 714/315-9575