NEWPORT BEACH, Ca. – Ohio State Linebacker James Laurinaitis has been named the winner of The Lott Trophy IMPACT Player of the Week presented by Wachovia.
Laurinaitis had 8 tackles, a forced fumble, 1.5 tackles for losses, a quarterback hurry and a pass defended in the Buckeyes’ 30-20 win over Illinois . Ohio State will receive $1,000 for its general scholarship fund in recognition of Laurinaitis’ performance.
Laurinaitis (6-3, 244, Hamel, Mn.) was selected by The Legends Football Coaches Association. Former Ohio State Coach John Cooper, a member of the Legends Coaches, said, “Laurinaitis’ play against Illinois was the most impressive in his three years playing for the Buckeyes. He was the best player on the field without a doubt. Jim’s had some great games in the past, but this was his most complete and dominant performance.”
Laurinaitis is one of eight semi-finalists for this year’s Lott Trophy.
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: Aaron Curry of Wake Forest , Nick Reed of Oregon , Brit Miller of Illinois and Myron Rolle of Florida State .
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
Week X – Zack Follett, LB, Cal
Week XI – Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri
Week XII – James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
LOTT SHOTS: Wake Forest Linebacker Aaron Curry had 8 tackles, (2 for losses), a sack and a quarterback hurry in a 21-17 loss to North Carolina State…Oregon’s Nick Reed had a sack, 2 tackles for losses, 2 quarterback hurries and a forced fumble in Oregon’s 55-45 win over Arizona…Brit Miller of Illinois had 10 ½ tackles to lead the Illini in the loss to Ohio State.
LEADERS: Oregon ’s Reed leads the Pac-10 in sacks with 10, tackles for losses with 16.5 and fumbles recovered with 5.
Illinois’ Miller leads the Big-10 in tackles with 124. Laurinaitis is second with 109.
Wake Forest’s Curry is second in the ACC with 13.5 tackles for losses.