Georgia lands two on Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list
The Lott IMPACT Trophy is presented annually to one of the top defensive players in all of College Football, equally weighing the importance of personal character and on-field performance. IMPACT stands for integrity, maturity, performance, academics, community and tenacity, and Georgia has two IMPACT players on the award’s initial watch list.
Junior defensive lineman Jalen Carter and redshirt sophomore defensive back Kelee Ringo were both included on the 42-player watch list released earlier this week, the first of many awards watch lists that will be released prior to the season’s kickoff in September. Georgia is one of six schools with more than a single candidate, tied with Clemson, Iowa, Notre Dame and Ohio State with two candidates apiece while trailing Alabama’s three. Last season Georgia had two finalists for the IMPACT Trophy in Nakobe Dean and Jordan Davis. Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson took home the award.
Carter, expected to be the leader of Georgia’s defensive line in 2022, was a five-star prospect coming out of Apopka (Fla.) High School. Ranked the No. 12 overall player in the the Class of 2020 and the No. 4 defensive lineman, Carter stepped in and made an immediate impact. He played in all 10 games, starting two of them, and finished with 14 stops, including three for lost yardage, and 13 quarterback pressures. In 2021, he upped his production by playing in all 15 games, once again starting two, and finished with 37 total tackles and 33 quarterback pressures, second-best on the team. He also had 8.5 tackles for loss, third-best among the Bulldogs, and 3.0 sacks along with two blocked kicks. Carter was named Second-Team All-SEC by the league’s 14 head coaches.
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Meanwhile, Ringo, another five-star in the Class of 2020 (No. 5 overall, No. 1 cornerback), came in and was not able to play his first season on campus. Ringo suffered a torn labrum in high school that required surgery and forced him to redshirt. However, in year two, Ringo stepped into a starting role for the Bulldogs’ last 12 games of the season, finishing with 34 tackles, eight pass breakups and two interceptions. The second of those interceptions sealed the deal for Georgia in its National Championship victory over Alabama, returning it 79 yards to the end zone for a pick-six. He too was recognized by the SEC’s coaches, being named to the Freshman All-SEC Team.
For a full list of Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list members, click here.
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