Spring football is officially in the rear view mirror and college football fans are left wondering what they'll do with themselves over the three months until fall camp commences. Um, how about look at watch lists?
Love them or hate them, it's that time of the year. Welcome to the offseason.
The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation beat everyone to the punch today by announcing the watch list for the Lott IMPACT trophy given annually to the defensive player of the year that best exemplifies Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community, and Tenacity (IMPACT, see what they did there?).
Voting for the award will take place throughout the season with a Lott IMPACT player of the week being named followed by the naming of the official winner set to be announced on December 9th.
Seven players from the Big 12 made the initial list which was tied for third most of any conference behind the Big Ten with nine nominees and the Pac-12 with eight. The ACC also had seven followed by the SEC with five.
The 2011 Lott trophy was awarded to Boston College's Luke Kuechly who was selected ninth overall in last week's NFL draft by the Carolina Panthers.
Big 12 Players on Lott Watch List:
- Jackson Jeffcoat, DE - Texas
- Alex Okafor, DE - Texas
- DeMontre Hurst - DB - Oklahoma
- Brodrick Brow, CB - Oklahoma State
- Arthur Brown, LB - Kansas State
- A.J. Klein, LB - Iowa State
- Jake Knott, LB - Iowa State
This will be the first of many more watch lists to come over the next month or so. While it's nice to get recognized prior to the season, all these lists will change as players play their way on and off the lists during the season.
And if you happen to have forgotten exactly how good Ronnie Lott was as a football player, it's never a bad time for a little refresher. Check out the video below.
