Lott IMPACT Trophy names eight semifinalists for 2021 season

The Lott IMPACT trophy announced the eight semifinalists for the prestigious annual award on Wednesday.

The award honors the top defensive player in college football who makes the biggest impact for his team, both on and off the field. IMPACT is an acronym for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity and embodied by former NFL star Ronnie Lott.

Four finalists will get invites to the award ceremony at the 18th Annual Lott IMPACT Trophy award show in Newport Beach, California on December 12. Joel Klatt of FOX Sports will be the emcee and former Michigan Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson is the guest speaker.

The university of the winner will receive $25,000 for its general scholarship fund. Also, the three runners-up will receive $5,000 for each of their schools.

Northwestern linebacker Paddy Fisher was the winner of the trophy in 2020.

Lott IMPACT Trophy semifinalists

Coby Bryant – CB, Cincinnati

• Thorpe finalist; 38 tackles, three interceptions, 11 pass breakups, three forced fumbles; Team captain.

Damone Clark – LB, LSU

• Second in nation in tackles (135, 11.2 per game); 15.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, interception. Wears No. 18 for the second straight season after being awarded the jersey prior to the start of 2020. The No. 18 is worn by the LSU player that best represents the values of the program on and off the field.

Yusuf Corker – S, Kentucky

• 73 tackles (third-most on team), team-high 8 passes broken up, 3.5 tackles for losses, 1 quarterback hurry; Has played in 49 career games with 36 consecutive starting assignments.

Jordan Davis – NT, Georgia

• Mid-season All-American; 24 tackles, two sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss, nine quarterback hurries; Nagurski finalist, Outland finalist; Bednarik semifinalist.

Nakobe Dean – LB, Georgia

• Mid-season All-American; No. 1 team in the country; Has one interception this season, 56 total tackles; 15 quarterback hurries, 7.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks; Butkus finalist; Bednarik semifinalist.

Aidan Hutchinson – DL, Michigan

• Mid-season All-American; Mid-season Big Ten Player of the Year; Senior CLASS Award finalist; Campbell Award finalist (3.54 GPA – Applied Exercise Science); his 12.5 sacks this season set a Michigan single season record; 14 tackles for losses, 51 total tackles, eight quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles.

George Karlaftis – DE, Purdue

• 8 quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles, two recoveries, 11.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, 41 total tackles; began playing football in eighth grade after moving to the US from Greece, 2020 Academic All-Big Ten.

Devin Lloyd – LB, Utah

• Mid-season All-American; Returning Butkus finalist; Bednarik and Walter Camp semi-finalist; Has 22 tackles for losses, 2nd in the country; 99 total tackles, eight sacks, three interceptions, six passes defended; three-time Pac-12 Player of the Week.