NEWPORT BEACH, Ca. – Illinois Linebacker Brit Miller has been named the winner of The Lott Trophy IMPACT® Player of the Week presented by Wachovia.
Miller had a sensational game against Wisconsin, recording 16 total tackles (13 solos), a sack and three passes broken up in a 27-17 loss. Illinois will receive $1,000 for its general scholarship fund in recognition of Miller’s performance. Miller was selected by The Legends Football Coaches Association. Former Indiana Coach Bill Mallroy, a member of the Legends Coaches, said: “Miller was a one-man wrecking crew against the Badgers. I have watched him develop into a real leader for their defense. He’s such a hard-nosed player. I now think he’s as good as J Leman was last year and he was one of the four Lott finalists.” Miller, who is among the nation’s leaders in tackles for losses with 14, has already graduated from Illinois and has been selected to the American Football Coaches Assn. Good Works Team.
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 this week were: Brian Orakpo of Texas , Geoirge Selvie of South Florida, Eric Berry of Tennessee and Brandon Spikes of Florida.
The Lott Trophy IMPACT® Players of the Week, 2008
Week I – Alterraun Verner, CB, UCLA
Week II – Zack Follett, LB, Cal
Week III – George Selvie, DE, South Florida
Week IV – Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest
Week V – Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas
Week VI – Scott McKillop, LB, Pitt
Week VII - Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas
Week VIII – Eric Berry, S, Tennessee
Week IX - Brit Miller, LB, Illinois
LOTT SHOTS: Florida Linebacker Brandon Spikes posted 6 tackles as the Gators buried Kentucky 63-5…Boston College’s Mark Herzlich had 8 tackles (one sack) in a loss to North Carolina, 45-24…Aaron Curry of Wake Forest had 3 tackles for loss and a sack in a 16-10 loss to Miami…Brian Orakpo continued his dominating season with 2 tackles for losses, a sack and 2 quarterback hurries in Texas’ 28-24 victory over Oklahoma State…George Selvie of South Florida recorded 4 tackles for losses, 2 sacks in a 24-20 loss to Louisville…Missouri Linebacker Sean Weatherspoon had 5 tackles, 1 for a loss and a pass breakup in Tigers’ 58-0 shelling of Colorado…Ohio State Linebacker James Laurinaitis had a team high 12 tackles in the 13-6 loss to Penn State…USC’s Brian Cushing contributed 6 tackles as the Trojans held down Arizona, 17-10…Tennessee Safety Eric Berry had 11 tackles, a pass break up and also added 2 kick returns and even caught a pass on offense, but the Vols lost to Alabama, 29-9…Nebraska Defensive End Zack Potter had 5 tackles, 1 for a loss in a 32-20 win over Baylor…