DORSEY, BECOMES HIGHEST DRAFTED WINNER;
LONG BECOMES HIGHEST DRAFTED FINALIST
LSU’s Glenn Dorsey, the winner of the 2007 Lott Trophy, was the fifth overall selection in the annual National Football League draft, being chosen by the Kansas City Chiefs while Virginia’s Chris Long, a finalist for the award, was selected second overall by the St. Louis Rams.
Dorsey became the highest drafted winner of the award and Long became the highest drafted finalist.
Previously, three Lott finalists were selected in the first round, the highest being A.J. Hawk of Ohio State, chosen fifth overall by the Green Bay Packers in the 2006 draft. Hawk was a finalist that year. Georgia’s David Pollack, the inaugural winner of the award in 2004, was the 17th selection in 2005 by the Cincinnati Bengals. That same year, linebacker Derrick Johnson of Texas, who was a Lott finalist, was the 15th pick in the first round by the Kansas City Chiefs.
Here is how the Lott finalists have been drafted:
2005
David Pollack, Georgia (winner), 1st round, Cincinnati
Derrick Johnson, Texas (finalist), 1st round, Kansas City
Jim Leonhard*, Wisconsin (finalist), undrafted walk-on with Buffalo Bills
2006
DeMeco Ryans**, Alabama (winner), 2nd round, Houston
A.J. Hawk, Ohio State (finalist), 1st round, Green Bay
Darryl Tapp, Virginia Tech (finalist), 2nd round, Seattle
2007
Dante Hughes, Cal (winner), 3rd round, Indianapolis
Paul Posluszny, Penn State (finalist), 2nd round, Buffalo
Quinn Pitcock, Ohio State (finalist), 3rd round, Indianapolis
2008
Glenn Dorsey, LSU (winner), 1st round, Kansas City
Chris Long, Virginia (finalist), 1st round, St. Louis
J Leman, Illinois (finalist), undrafted signed with Minnesota Vikings
James Laurinatis, Ohio State (finalist), Junior, returned to college
*Leonhard signed a free agent contract with Buffalo and is still with the Bills
**Ryans’ was the first pick in the 2nd round and went on to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.
For more information on The Lott Trophy, please visit our website at www.TheLottTrophy.com
Media Contact:
Pete Donovan
760/360-0414
About the Lott Trophy:
The Lott Trophy was established by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation to honor college football’s Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year.
The award is unique because it represents the first trophy to give equal weight to personal character as well as athletic performance from a defensive college player and is the first national college football award based on the West Coast.
The Lott Trophy was named in honor of Ronnie Lott - a two time All -American for USC and College Football Hall of Fame inductee. Ronnie Lott went on to win four Super Bowl rings with the San Francisco 49ers, ten trips to the Pro Bowl and a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Always known as a fierce competitor, he was a leader who had IMPACT both on and off the field.
