With the 2009 regular season having come to a finish and the bowl games next on the horizon, the four finalists for the sixth annual Lott Trophy have been making headlines across the country:
All four finalists were selected to the American Football Coaches Assn. All-American team.
Ndamukong Suh of Nebraska had a spectacular and memorable day against Texas in the Big 12 championship game. Although the Cornhuskers lost, 13-12, Suh was the dominant player on the field, recording 4.5 sacks, 6 tackles for losses and 12 total tackles (all career highs). Texas quarterback Colt McCoy had never been sacked 4.5 times in any game by an entire team prior to Suh’s relentless attack. He also had seven tackles for loss and two others for no gain, meaning he had a total of nine tackles for a loss or no gain. Said long-time ABC announcer Brent Musburger: “It was the greatest single defensive performance I have ever seen.”
Suh has been chosen the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. He is a finalist for five other national awards in addition to the Lott Trophy.
Rolando McClain of Alabama was the driving force for the Crimson Tide defense in defeating Florida, 32-13, in the SEC Championship and the right to play for the national championship. McClain was credited with three quarterback hurries, five tackles and a pass breakup. For the season, he leads Alabama with 96 tackles and 12 tackles for losses and has added 11 quarterback hurries and two interceptions.
Jerry Hughes of TCU was selected the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season.
Eric Berry of Tennessee was the only player to repeat on the AFCA All-American team. In three years at Tennessee, the junior safety has recorded 241 tackles and intercepted 14 passes, returning them for 494 yards.
Should McClain or Berry be chosen SEC Defensive Player of the Year, they would follow a list of Lott Trophy candidates who have won the award. David Pollack of Georgia was the Player of the Year in ’04 and went on to win the inaugural Lott Trophy. DeMeco Ryans of Alabama repeated with both awards in ’05 and Glenn Dorsey of LSU did the same in ’07. Berry won the SEC award last year when he was a Lott Trophy semi-finalist.
Where they’re going:
Alabama will play in the National Championship game against Texas on Jan. 7.
TCU will play Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl Jan. 5.
Nebraska will play Arizona in the San Diego Holiday Bowl Dec. 30.
Tennessee will play Virginia Tech in the Chick Fil-a Bowl Dec. 31.
Pete Donovan
The Lott Trophy
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Thelotttrophy.com